After a thrilling comeback at the Guangzhou Open, Zhang Shuai angrily criticized the referees' professionalism and urged netizens to stop the discouraging education.

In the second round of the Guangzhou Tennis Open women's singles, Zhang Shuai staged a comeback by defeating Eliawetz 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, securing a tough spot in the quarterfinals and becoming the sole Chinese contender left in the women's singles bracket.

It is worth mentioning that the match was fraught with difficulties. After the game, Zhang Shuai rarely lost her temper, openly accusing the line judges of lacking professional ability and calling on fans to stop giving players "discouraging education" off the court, which sparked widespread attention.

Before the match, most media and fans predicted an easy victory for Zhang Shuai. According to official odds, as the top local player, Zhang was widely favored with winning odds as low as 1.5, while her opponent Eliawetz had odds as high as 2.5.

Although the two had never faced each other before, Zhang’s recent consistent performance and home-court advantage made her the favorite. However, the match did not go as smoothly as expected and turned into a battle testing mentality and resilience.

In the first set, Zhang quickly found her rhythm, using precise serves and baseline attacks to take a 3-1 lead. However, the situation soon changed dramatically as Eliawetz adjusted her tactics and intensified counterattacks, while multiple controversial calls on court caused Zhang’s emotions to fluctuate.

In a crucial game, a ball clearly called out by Zhang was not signaled by the line judge, and the chair umpire did not correct it in time. Since the Guangzhou Open does not use Hawk-Eye technology, Zhang was unable to challenge the call, leading to visible emotional swings and increased errors, eventually losing the first set 3-6.

During the set break, Zhang lost her temper completely and argued fiercely with the chair umpire over the disputed call, standing her ground firmly.

Returning to the court in the second set, Zhang still carried the emotional weight and expressed her dissatisfaction with her team, which led to some doubts about her mindset among observers. Social media saw many questioning her mental state.

At the changeover, Zhang showed signs of frustration but managed to calm herself through deep breathing and self-talk, reducing unforced errors. When another controversial call occurred, she chose to focus on the match, gradually regaining her rhythm and winning the set 6-3, demonstrating the adjustment skills of a seasoned player.

The on-site commentator remarked, “Zhang Shuai showed great mental toughness under pressure, a valuable asset she has built throughout her career.”

In the deciding set, the enthusiastic support from the home crowd became a strong backing for Zhang. In key games, she took decisive action, scoring multiple winners and dominating the momentum. Under pressure, Eliawetz made frequent mistakes, and Zhang comfortably closed the match 6-2 to complete the comeback. Post-match stats showed Zhang’s first-serve points won rate reached 80%, fully reflecting her ability to adapt during the match.

In the post-match interview, Zhang openly expressed dissatisfaction with the referees: “I didn’t expect to face unfair treatment abroad, but it happened here at the Guangzhou Open as well. Several balls were clearly out, but the line judges didn’t call them, and the chair umpire didn’t correct it. I hope the line judges improve their professionalism as a sign of respect for players and the sport.”

Additionally, Zhang revealed she repeatedly voiced her frustrations to her team during the match but, without Hawk-Eye support, had to rely on self-adjustment to handle the disputes.

Beyond the refereeing issues, Zhang also responded to off-court online comments. She appealed, “Please stop calling for players to retire or verbally abusing them. We athletes have had enough and don’t want to be ‘educated’ off the court either.” This statement directly addressed recent negative online remarks targeting players' performances, emphasizing that players already face enough pressure on court and deserve more understanding rather than criticism.

Netizens reacted with mixed opinions. Supporters flooded social media with comments like, “Zhang Shuai is amazing; the referees really need to improve. Chinese players have it tough!” Others said, “It’s heartbreaking that she faced unfairness even playing at home, stay strong Zhang!”

However, some critics argued that “players should learn to control their emotions, especially since she won the match.” Others questioned, “Why complain about the referees so often? It makes them seem unprofessional.”

In summary, Zhang Shuai’s victory not only solidified her strong performance during the home season but also sparked reflection on refereeing standards and fan culture. As the last Chinese woman standing in the Guangzhou Open singles, her upcoming matches will be closely watched. Hopefully, Zhang will maintain focus and respond to all controversies with her skills, bringing more honor to Chinese tennis. (Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)