Zhang Shuai goes from 24-match losing streak to beating a Top 10 player in just two days

Coming into the China Open, China's Zhang Shuai was in an historic slump—she had lost her last 24 matches in a row, a streak that dated back to January of last year, and a run that sank her ranking from No. 23 when it began to No. 595 going into this week.

It was the second-longest losing streak for a woman in the Open Era.

But two days ago, on Wednesday, Zhang’s long international nightmare came to an end as she took out American McCartney Kessler in the first round of the WTA 1000 event, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1).

And today, she picked up right where she left off last January, winning her second match in a row—and against a Top 10 player too, beating No. 8-ranked Emma Navarro in the second round, 6-4, 6-2.

It was Navarro's first match since she broke into the Top 10 for the first time following her run to the US Open semifinals.

Even more special: Zhang’s victory over Navarro comes almost exactly 15 years after her first career Top 10 win, when she stunned No. 1-ranked Dinara Safina in the exact same round of the China Open in 2009. That victory was actually historic—Zhang was ranked No. 226 at the time, which is still the record for lowest-ranked player to defeat a reigning No. 1 in WTA rankings history (since 1975).

Zhang now has nine career Top 10 wins—eight on hard courts, six in Asia and four in China, the four in China all coming in Beijing.

And there’s more: with her victory over Navarro, Zhang has actually won three of her last four matches against Top 10 players.

She didn’t face any Top 10 players during her losing streak.

ZHANG VS TOP 10 PLAYERS SINCE AUGUST 2022:
d. No. 2 Kontaveit in 2022 Cincinnati 3rd Rd, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
l. to No. 7 Sabalenka in 2022 Cincinnati QFs, 6-4, 7-6 (1)
d. No. 10 Garcia in 2022 Tokyo 2nd Rd, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5)
d. No. 8 Navarro in 2024 Beijing 2nd Rd, 6-4, 6-2

She’s now won back-to-back matches for the first time since she won three in a row to reach the fourth round of the 2023 Australian Open. The former No. 22 is projected to rise from her current ranking of No. 595 back into the Top 450 when the new rankings come out.

Awaiting Zhang in the third round in Beijing will be Greet Minnen, a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 winner over Anastasia Potapova later in the day.

Zhang and Minnen will be playing each other for the first time.