Grand Slam Champion's Finale is a Technical School Career Position? Zhang Shuai to Become Coach at a Beijing Sports Technical School

It is often said that the ultimate destination is a stable career position, and for a Grand Slam champion, it is naturally the same.

As a women's doubles champion at the Australian Open and US Open, Zhang Shuai was recently announced as the prospective tennis coach for Beijing Xiannongtan Sports Technical School, effectively securing a public institution career position. This news comes from a recruitment announcement posted on the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau website on March 2nd.

The Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau stated in the recruitment announcement, "According to the 'Announcement on the Open Recruitment of Coaches and Athletes by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau's Affiliated Public Institutions in the Second Half of 2025,' the candidates for employment are now publicized after completing procedures including application, qualification review, written test, interview, practical assessment, physical examination, and inspection." This indicates that Zhang Shuai will obtain a formal public institution career position, having passed multiple stages such as application, qualification review, written test, interview, practical assessment, physical examination, and inspection.

Public information shows that Beijing Xiannongtan Sports Technical School is located at No. 11 Xiannongtan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing. It is a public welfare Class I financial subsidy institution directly under the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau. Its primary responsibilities include cultivating and supplying high-level competitive sports reserve talents for Beijing and the nation, and undertaking major domestic and international competitive sports competitions.

According to online reports, Zhang Shuai previously applied to Beijing Sport University, received a student ID number, but was later denied admission. Subsequently, her application for a tennis coach position at Tsinghua University was also rejected. During a post-match press conference at the 2024 China Open, Zhang Shuai discussed these two awkward experiences, mentioning that Beijing Sport University refused admission because she was not a world champion, while Tsinghua University cited her lack of a Beijing household registration as the reason.

"Around the Tokyo Olympics, I applied for the champion program at Beijing Sport University. I was actually admitted and even got a student ID number, but then while I was still competing abroad, I was somehow told I wasn't admitted? I was quite surprised that a Grand Slam champion doesn't count as a world champion.

"After another four years of playing, I saw Tsinghua University recruiting a tennis coach. Everyone suggested that if I wanted to stop playing, I could become a teacher there. I applied but heard nothing back. When I finally got a response, the first question was whether I had a Beijing household registration. I shamefully replied no. I thought being a university teacher, educating students, was about using my expertise to teach young learners," Zhang Shuai said.

Zhang Shuai and partner Elise Mertens win the 2026 Australian Open women's doubles championship

The school where Zhang Shuai has successfully secured a position is significantly lower in both rank and influence compared to Tsinghua University. The Beijing Xiannongtan Sports Technical School she is about to join is a public welfare Class I financial subsidy institution under the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, serving as a municipal-level professional competitive sports training base (not a regular academic school). Administratively, it holds a directorate-level rank, whereas Tsinghua University is a vice-ministerial level institution directly under the Ministry of Education. Based on her recruitment announcement, Zhang Shuai's appointed position is likely the entry-level rank for public institution careers, similar to a junior civil servant.

Zhang Shuai and partner Samantha Stosur win the 2019 Australian Open women's doubles championship

Among the names listed alongside Zhang Shuai in the announcement are other familiar figures. For instance, Yang Jiayu, who won two race walking gold medals at the previous National Games, will be appointed to an athlete position in the track and field team. Her husband and coach, Wei Xinmeng, will be appointed to a coach position in the same team. The 38-year-old Ma Xiaoxu, a former key striker for the Chinese women's national football team, will serve as a coach for the school's women's football team. Besides these star athletes, the list includes younger athletes and coaches, such as 17-year-old Shao Yushan and 18-year-old Yuan Yuanxin, who were members of the championship teams for the women's tennis group and the under-18 women's table tennis group, respectively, at the previous National Games youth competitions.

According to the WTA official website, Zhang Shuai was born on January 21, 1989, in Tianjin. Her highest singles and doubles world rankings are No. 22 (achieved in January 2023) and No. 2 (achieved in July 2022), respectively. She has won two Australian Open women's doubles titles (2019 with Samantha Stosur, 2026 with Elise Mertens) and one US Open women's doubles title (2021 with Samantha Stosur). Her career prize money totals $12.43 million. Zhang Shuai's current coach is Liu Shuo.

Zhang Shuai and partner Samantha Stosur win the 2021 US Open women's doubles championship

Zhang Shuai's father, Zhang Zhiqiang, was a football player, and her mother, Wang Fengqin, was a basketball player.

Zhang Shuai started playing tennis at a local club at age five, accompanied by her parents. She began collaborating with the Chinese Tennis Association at age 12. Her fondest tennis memories include playing mixed doubles with Pete Sampras in 2011, winning the Australian Open doubles title with good friend Samantha Stosur in 2019, and reaching the quarterfinals at the 2016 Australian Open and 2019 Wimbledon Championships. Zhang Shuai enjoys listening to music, photography, and exploring familiar places to relax.

Currently, Zhang Shuai is preparing for competition at Indian Wells, where she will face Ukrainian player Dayana Yastremska in the singles first round. She will also continue her partnership with Elise Mertens in the women's doubles event at the tournament.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Yun Juan Yun Shu)