Zhang Shuai, Wang Xiyu reach US Open main draw

Zhang Shuai got past fellow Chinese Wei Sijia 6-1, 6-3 to reach the women's singles US Open main draw for the 12th time in the final round of qualifying on Friday. 

The 36-year-old veteran made it to a Grand Slam main draw for the 49th time overall and she will face Swiss player Belinda Bencic in the first round. Zhang had previously reached the fourth round at the US Open in 2022 and was a doubles champion in 2021. 

Meanwhile, Wang Xiyu beat Alina Charaeva 2-1 to also make it to the main draw. The 24-year-old took the first set 6-4 but her Russian opponent fought back in the second and took it by the same score. But Wang was the better player in the decider and claimed it 6-2 to seal her place in the main draw. The Chinese will face Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko in the first round.