Zhang Shuai swept past Wei Sijia with 790,000 yuan and entered the US Open main draw for the 12th time; after Djokovic’s loss, netizens said it might not be a bad thing.

When 36-year-old Zhang Shuai faced 21-year-old Wei Sijia in the decisive qualifying round at the US Open, and both were desperate for that main draw ticket, Zhang demonstrated once more that age brings wisdom!

After Zhang Shuai and Wei Sijia met smoothly in the final qualifying round of the US Open, it was the least tense match for fans and netizens since the qualifiers began, because whoever won had already secured an additional Chinese spot in the US Open main draw.

Even so, curiosity remained, as competitive sports always do; although both are Chinese stars, everyone wanted to see if the younger player would overthrow the veteran or if experience would once again prevail.

Judging by their performances in the first set, the pre-match opinion that the young Guangxi player was somewhat inexperienced proved accurate. Against the seasoned elder sister, Wei Sijia was powerless to resist; the match seemed like Zhang Shuai was teaching Wei how to play. The younger player couldn’t keep up and was led around the court, making it difficult for her to make an impact in that set.

After Zhang Shuai sealed the first set 6-1, someone jokingly suggested in the live chat that the single game Wei won was a gesture of mercy from Zhang, meant to spare her the embarrassment of a whitewash and to encourage the young player indirectly. Given how completely Zhang controlled Wei, she could have easily delivered a shutout but chose not to—“If that’s not mercy, what is?”

Seeing that Wei Sijia couldn’t shake Zhang Shuai in the first set, everyone expected Zhang to speed up her march to victory in the second set and finish quickly to rest at the hotel.

Credit must be given to Wei Sijia for her strong adjustment after a heavy first-set defeat; in the second set, she not only withstood Zhang’s immense pressure but also managed to hold off the veteran’s powerful attacks during rallies.

Especially after Zhang broke serve early in the second set, fans were ready to call the match, thinking the outcome was decided. However, Wei immediately broke back with lightning speed, prompting some to joke that the Guangxi girl was getting serious and that the match might last longer now that she was fighting back.

Unfortunately, after leading 3-2 and missing opportunities, Wei paid a heavy price and was soon defeated 6-3 by Zhang Shuai, who ended the battle and blocked her from entering the US Open main draw for the second time.

Although Wei Sijia ultimately couldn’t avoid being swept by Zhang Shuai, her grit and fighting spirit throughout the match deserve praise. Yet, facing the more experienced Zhang, Wei still showed her inexperience. This loss should be seen as a learning experience and a price of growth.

In fact, there are many lessons Wei Sijia can take away from this match.

For example, her tactical adaptability needs improvement. The reason she lost the first set so badly was because she was too fixated on finding opportunities between using and generating power, while Zhang gave her no chance, leaving her confused and helpless. Also, in handling crucial points, Wei seemed overly cautious, lacking the youthful boldness to take risks. Zhang was better in this regard; the one-sided nature of the match was due to Zhang’s greater willingness to fight and change tactics on key points—something young Wei should learn from.

Zhang Shuai advanced to the US Open main draw without dropping a set in the qualifiers, boosting her world ranking to No. 110, edging closer to re-entering the top 100, and earning $110,000 (over 790,000 yuan), making it a double celebration. Starting her 12th US Open main draw campaign with such momentum has made Zhang the envy of many.

Having praised Zhang, applause should also go to Wang Xiyu. The young player performed well, surviving a three-set battle against Charayeva in the final qualifying round and, following Zhang’s footsteps, successfully entering the US Open main draw.

The only disappointment was Wu Yibing, who was highly favored before the tournament but was swept in two sets by Kim in the battle for a US Open main draw spot, which surprised many. His US Open journey ended early, and he will now focus on domestic challenger events to prepare for the Chinese season.

Among Chinese male players, another regretful name is Bu Yunchaokete!

After reaching the quarterfinals at the Winston-Salem 250 tournament, China’s No.1 faced Vandeweghe in the quarters. Given Bu’s strong confidence and good form before the match, many hoped he could reach the semifinals. However, after a tough three-set battle, he lost, disappointing fans.

Still, fans and netizens did not blame Bu Yunchaokete because the 3-6, 7-5, 3-6 scoreline showed he gave his all. The loss was mainly due to slightly weaker performance on key points compared to Vandeweghe, which is understandable.

Furthermore, with the US Open draw now released, although Bu’s exit seems sad, having more time to rest and prepare for the US Open means this early loss might not be entirely negative.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlight River Starry Sky)