China secures another spot in the US Open main draw as Zhang Shuai faces Wei Sijia, sparking what fans call a sweet dilemma.

The highly anticipated clash between Zhang Shuai and Wei Sijia in the decisive round of the US Open qualifiers has brought joy and a sweet dilemma: not knowing which player to back.

To be precise, seeing two Chinese female players meet in the final qualifying round at the US Open is truly great news, as it means an additional spot for China’s tennis team in the main draw—though it remains uncertain whether Zhang Shuai or Wei Sijia will claim it!

It’s quite touching that Zhang Shuai and Wei Sijia have met at this stage of the competition!

The 36-year-old Chinese veteran faced world No. 170 Wiedemannova in the second qualifying round. Although the bookmaker odds slightly favored Zhang Shuai at 1.8 against Wiedemannova’s 1.91, the margin was negligible, making it essentially a 50-50 contest with either player capable of winning.

Since Zhang Shuai’s miraculous comeback in the first qualifying round earned her the nickname “New York Wonder Woman” among fans, it seemed fate wanted to test her resilience again against Wiedemannova.

When Zhang was trailing 1-3 in the first set, viewers immediately remarked in the live chat about her impressive comeback ability and wondered if she could pull off another comeback victory.

It’s often said that veterans are most reliable in crucial moments, and Zhang Shuai did not disappoint! After leveling the score at 4-4, she took full control of the set and sealed the first set by winning two consecutive games.

The tense first set had viewers sweating, and many predicted the second set would be just as rollercoaster-like based on their live chat discussions.

However, Zhang Shuai refused to follow that pattern.

Having figured out Wiedemannova’s tactics through the tough first set, Zhang adjusted her strategy and dominated the second set from start to finish. After breaking Wiedemannova’s first service game, she put on a personal showcase, ultimately winning the set 6-0 and advancing powerfully to the final qualifying round—just one victory away from securing a main draw spot!

Since Zhang Shuai and Wei Sijia are in the same half of the draw, Zhang’s smooth progress has left fans eager to know whether her opponent in the final round will be her compatriot or the Spanish player Romero!

The match between Wei Sijia and Romero was considered a perfect 50-50 battle, with bookmakers offering equal odds of 1.83 for both players, showing no favoritism.

However, based on the first set performance, Wei Sijia did not look like an equal contender; the Guangxi native was clearly outplayed by Romero in all aspects. After losing the first set 4-6, some viewers in the live chat bluntly said that if she continued like this, her chances of meeting senior teammate Zhang Shuai in the final round were almost zero.

Perhaps motivated by the fans’ doubts, Wei Sijia suddenly found a burst of energy from the second set onward, playing as if supercharged. She convincingly reversed the match by winning two sets 6-1 each, forcing the Spanish player Romero to leave the court with a defeated expression—an outcome that surprised and delighted everyone.

After the match, Wei Sijia received widespread praise for impressing everyone. Despite her shaky start, she showed excellent adjustment ability at the crucial moment, putting herself back on track and earning warm applause from fans.

Wei Sijia’s narrow escape and subsequent meeting with Zhang Shuai in the US Open final qualifying round officially confirm that China’s tennis team has gained yet another spot in the main draw this year.

Some fans jokingly said that when Wei Sijia’s fate was uncertain, they hoped she would meet Zhang Shuai. Now that the two have successfully met, the sweet dilemma arises: who should they support to enter the US Open main draw? “This feeling is so annoying!”

Others humorously replied that the deciding factor will be whether the 36-year-old Zhang Shuai shows mercy to the younger Wei Sijia, or if the 21-year-old Wei respects her elder teammate. This matchup promises to be fascinating, and whoever wins will join Wang Xinyu and others in the main draw.

Based on current public opinion, Zhang Shuai is clearly the favorite.

Some netizens pointed out that in terms of experience, offensive quality, and risk-taking spirit, Wei Sijia still lags noticeably behind her senior teammate. Regarding handling critical points, Wei cannot compare to Zhang, whose winning shots in the second round overwhelmingly surpassed Wei’s, indicating that Wei is still maturing and has not yet shed her inexperience.

Of course, Wei Sijia has her own advantages. For example, she is 15 years younger than Zhang Shuai, giving her a physical edge; she is also more agile in seizing rising opportunities. If she can capitalize on this, an upset is not out of the question.

This highly anticipated match will take place in the early hours of August 23 Beijing time. It will be exciting to see whether Zhang Shuai or Wei Sijia will advance to the US Open main draw!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlight River’s Starry Sky)