China's Zhang vs. Wang bow out of women's singles

World
Europe

The Chinese challenge in the Australian Open women's singles has come to an end as two of the country's top-tennis players Wang Qiang and Zhang Shuai went down fighting in their respective third round matches in Melbourne Saturday morning.

In a thrilling three-setter, Zhang was barely defeated by Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-4, 4-6, 5-7. After Zhang came out firing on all cylinders and won the first set at ease, Svitolina bounced back just in time and bagged the second set to extend the match to the decisive third set.

The decider set went down to the wire as both the players came up with a slew of winners as well as making some unforced errors.

However, in the end, it was the Ukrainian who prevailed over her gritty Chinese rival to storm into the next round.

China's Wang Qiang eyes the ball during the match against Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova in the Australian Open. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, another Chinese ace, Wang Qiang crashed out of the women's singles after suffering a straight-set defeat against Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova.

A smashing Sevastova didn't allow her formidable opponent any chance as she won the first set 6-3. There was no change in the script in the second as well as the Latvian wrapped up the set and the match with an easy 6-3, 6-3 scoreline.

However, in the women's doubles, Zhang and former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur got better of the eighth-seeded pair of Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei and Abigail Spears of the USA in the second round on Friday.

The Chinese and Aussie pair claimed the first set 7-6 before keeping their momentum going to win the match point after Zhang's serve forced Spears to return wide. They won the match 7-6, 6-2 to sail into the third round.

In another women's doubles match, Wang and Jiang Xinyu bit the dust against the Chinese Taipei pair of Chan Hao-ching and Latisha Chan. The Chinese duo failed to prevent their twin opponents from winning the first set 6-2.

Wang, who is only ranked World Number 296 in women's doubles, and her partner couldn't recover and lost the second set as well. The Chan sisters grabbed the set 6-3 to reach the last 16.

In the men's doubles, China's Gong Maoxin and Zhang Ze were knocked out by Pablo Busta and Garcia-Lopez in the second round. After losing the opening set 6-3, the Chinese team clawed their way back into the game and took the second set 6-4. However, China's first male doubles team at this stage couldn't sustain their comeback efforts as the Spanish combo clinched the set 6-4 to make it to the third round.