French Open: China’s Zhang Shuai crashes out in first round; Kostyuk says crowd should be ‘embarrassed’ for booing her
- Error-strewn performance sees 34-year-old double fault 7 times in 6-1, 6-1 thumping at hands of Poland’s Magdalena Frech
- Shuai still without a win on clay this season and hoping for change of fortunes in women’s doubles
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Zhang Shuai crashed out of the French Open in the first round on Sunday, losing 6-1, 6-1 to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in an error-strewn performance that included seven double faults.
The 34-year-old, who reached the round of 16 in Roland Garros in 2020, has yet to win a game on clay this season and never looked like changing that in Paris.
Frech repeatedly broke the 29th seed and although Zhang managed to save two match points she was then unable to hold serve, as her opponent breezed to victory in just 47 minutes.
“I was not in my best physical condition, but I could already train as usual. I felt a pain in my throat through the match, so I hope I can get better in the doubles match,” said Zhang, who will partner with French local and former doubles world No 1 Kristina Mladenovic in the women’s doubles.
China will have at least one representative in the next round of the women’s singles though, after Zheng Qinwen saw off Slovenian qualifier Tamara Zidansek 6-3, 6-1 in little more than an hour.
Earlier in the day, Aryna Sabalenka won a politically charged duel against Marta Kostyuk as jeers and boos rained down on the defeated Ukrainian who refused to shake hands with her Belarusian opponent.
World No 2 and Australian Open champion Sabalenka swept 10 of the last 12 games to win 6-3, 6-2 as she kick-started her push to reach the second week in Paris for the first time.
Kostyuk honoured her pledge not to shake hands with Sabalenka in protest at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a key military ally of Moscow.
The 20-year-old Kostyuk, who has been a vociferous critic of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to keep competing on tour since the invasion of her country, questioned the crowd’s motives in booing her stance.
“I want to see people react to it in 10 years when the war is over. I think they will not feel really nice about what they did,” she said. “I didn’t expect it. People should be honestly embarrassed.”
Kostyuk, ranked at 39 in the world, famously refused to shake hands with Sabalenka’s Belarusian compatriot and former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka at the US Open last year. She opted instead for a cursory touch of racquets at the net.
“It was a very tough match, tough emotionally. I didn’t know if the booing was against me but thank you so much for your support, it’s really important,” said Sabalenka, who apologised for her exaggerated, theatrical bow to the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd.
Sabalenka had admitted on the eve of the tournament that she could accept if Kostyuk had feelings of “hate” towards her.
“I never said that I hate Aryna Sabalenka or any of the players. I just don’t respect her because of her position in this situation,” said Kostyuk, who wants Russian and Belarusian players to individually denounce the war which has raged on since February last year.
