Wang Qiang from China losses to Ons Jabeur from Tunisia in the women's singles Round of 16 match at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, January 26, 2020. /VCG Photo
Wang Qiang from China losses to Ons Jabeur from Tunisia in the women's singles Round of 16 match at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, January 26, 2020. /VCG Photo
Wang Qiang from China suffered a painful loss against Ons Jabeur from Tunisia 2-0 in the Round of 16 match at the Australian Open on Sunday. Wang failed to match her best record at a Grand Slam event of making the quarterfinals.
The scores of the two sets were 7-6 and 6-1 respectively. Wang's knockout also meant that all Chinese players were eliminated from women's singles' tournament at this year's Australian Open.
Ons Jabeur from Tunisia competes in the women's singles Round of 16 match against Wang Qiang from China, January 26, 2020. /VCG Photo
Ons Jabeur from Tunisia competes in the women's singles Round of 16 match against Wang Qiang from China, January 26, 2020. /VCG Photo
In their previous two matches, Wang claimed two victories and did not lose one set. With such mental advantage, Wang broke two serves of Jabeur from the beginning and soon led 3-1. However, the 25-year-old Tunisian ace put up stubborn resistance to tie the score 4-4 after four games. Wang had the chance of winning Set 1 in Game 10 but she missed it and had to play tiebreak with Jabeur after the set reached 6-6.
In the tiebreak, the two kept exchanging points until it was 4-4. Then Jabeur suddenly exploded to take three games in a row, winning the tiebreak 7-4 and Set 1 7-6.
Wang Qiang competes in the women's singles Round of 16 match against Ons Jabeur from Tunisia, January 26, 2020. /VCG Photo
Wang Qiang competes in the women's singles Round of 16 match against Ons Jabeur from Tunisia, January 26, 2020. /VCG Photo
Wang seemed bothered by the loss in the first set and started off the wrong foot in the second one by losing two serves quickly and trailed 5-0. Though she managed to save her love game, Jabeur already established an unstoppable winning momentum and put an end to this match in Game 7.
Despite the loss, Wang has already done an impressive job at the Australian Open as she defeated Serena Williams on Friday, becoming the first Chinese player who ever took a win over the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
Jabeur will meet No. 14 seed Sofia Kenin from the U.S. in the quarterfinals. Kenin defeated her compatriot, 15-year-old genius Coco Gauff on Sunday.