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
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.