Four players from the Chinese mainland – Wei Sijia, Zhang Shuai, Wang Xiyu, and Wu Yibing – defeated their opponents in the second round of qualifying for the U.S. Open on Thursday, moving one step closer to the main draw that will begin on Sunday.
Wei battled from behind to defeat Leyre Romero Gormaz of Spain 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. The victory moved Wei level in their head-to-head series after two career meetings, with Romero Gormaz having won the first encounter 6-4, 6-4 at the Antalya Challenger 1 in March.
The two players exchanged multiple breaks in the first set, before the 23-year-old Spaniard prevailed 6-4. Wei bounced back quickly in the second set, which she started with a break on the way to a 3-0 lead. After her opponent held in the fourth, the World No. 189 claimed three consecutive games to clinch the set 6-1, knotting up the contest at 1-1.
The 21-year-old continued to dominate in the third set, snatching six games in a row after surrendering the first to seal the deal 6-1 again. Wei will face her compatriot, 36-year-old veteran Zhang Shuai, in the final match of the quest for her U.S. Open main draw debut.
Zhang knocked out Darja Vidmanova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-0 in the second round. Although she gave up a break first and fell behind 3-1 in the opener, the Chinese veteran replied by grabbing three straight games to seize the upper hand, before clinching the set 6-4 with 20 winners.
The second set proceeded much more smoothly for Zhang, who committed just three unforced errors and did not concede a single game to slam the door 6-0.
China’s Wang eliminated Petra Martic of Croatia 7-5, 6-4 to reach the final round of qualifying. She overcame a 5-2 deficit in the opener, saving four set points before surging into a 1-0 overall lead. She then maintained her momentum and sealed the deal 6-4 in the second set. Wang’s next opponent will be Alina Charaeva of Russia.
Wu moved one step closer to qualifying for the men’s singles main draw after defeating Luca Van Assche of France 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.
The 25-year-old Chinese broke his opponent in the first game, and had a chance for another in the fifth, but the Frenchman fought back to hold. Van Assche earned three break points in the ninth game, but Wu wiped them all out to take the game, before clinching the set 6-3.
Both players saved break points in their first three service games, and the second set was level at 3-3. Wu then converted a break and claimed three games in a row to triumph 6-3 again. He will face Jerome Kym of Switzerland next.
Four Chinese tennis players progress toward main draw at U.S. Open
