Zhang Shuai's historic China Open run ended in the quarterfinals on Thursday as the home hero ranked 595 in the world went out in straight sets to Paula Badosa.
The former world No 2 from Spain won 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) and faces fourth seed Coco Gauff of the United States or Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva in the last four.
The 35-year-old Zhang, a two-time Grand Slam singles quarterfinalist who has been plagued by injury, arrived in Beijing on a run of 24 singles defeats in a row.
The painful losing run, stretching more than 600 days, was the second-longest on the WTA Tour in the Open Era, which began in 1968.
The defence 😮💨@paulabadosa | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/Z6hMtcObFm
— wta (@WTA) October 3, 2024
But the former top-25 player finally won a match to start her tournament and then rattled off three more victories to improbably reach the last eight.
Zhang was the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage at the China Open, but her run came to an end against the 19th-ranked Badosa.
In front of a near-capacity crowd at the 15 000-seater Diamond Court, Zhang rapidly went a double break down in a blur of unforced errors.
No mistake 😤@paulabadosa | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/nVnStRwB6d
— wta (@WTA) October 3, 2024
The home player finally held to get on the board for 4-1, but Badosa raced away with the first set in 23 minutes.
It was first set that Zhang had dropped at the tournament.
The two-time major doubles champion was a different proposition at the start of the second set, breaking the Spaniard and holding serve for a 2-0 lead.
Back came Badosa, who is chasing a fifth singles title, and the 26-year-old Spaniard sealed the deal on her first match point when Zhang's forehand return drifted wide.