Zhang Shuai pulled off a stunning upset against Kruger, achieving a sweet revenge and gained a major positive ahead of her match with Rybakina.

Zhang Shuai demonstrated once more in Brisbane that when underestimated, she can always deliver unexpected results.

After making it through the Brisbane qualifiers into the main draw of this 500-level tournament, fans were first pleased for Zhang Shuai, but the difficult draw she received soon caused their excitement to fade.

Facing the powerful American Kruger in the first round and then Rybakina in the next set, many believed Zhang Shuai’s chances of advancing past the opening round were slim given such a challenging draw.

Due to her doubles partner Samsonova facing the duo of Sabalenka and Badosa, Zhang Shuai’s team was favored before the match but ultimately lost, leading many to boldly predict Zhang would likely suffer back-to-back early exits before her key singles match against Kruger even began.

Concerns about Zhang Shuai’s ability to overcome Kruger stemmed not only from her heartbreaking 2024 US Open loss where she was bageled and reversed, but also because the American is a typical power player; coupled with Zhang’s age approaching 37, she was seen as having no advantages.

From their first set performance, it was clear Zhang Shuai came fully prepared for this high-profile battle, with her determination for revenge written all over her face, as if to prove that predictions can be unreliable—just wait for the final outcome.

The Chinese star took advantage of Kruger’s slow start, quickly gaining a 2-0 lead by holding and breaking serve, seizing control of the match early on.

What impressed people about Zhang Shuai was that while some fans and viewers doubted she could maintain her lead, she defied expectations by withstanding all of Kruger’s attacks, remaining steady to frustrate her opponent and ultimately taking the first set 6-4, putting all the pressure on the American.

After securing the first set, Zhang Shuai’s fighting spirit soared. Fans watching live commented that she didn’t look like a 36-year-old veteran playing a younger opponent, but rather like two energetic young players fiercely competing, as Zhang showed no signs of fatigue and even outperformed Kruger in many aspects.

Especially after replicating her first-set break to take a 2-1 lead, and seeing Kruger unable to respond effectively, many believed Zhang had a strong chance to finish the match in straight sets.

It was expected Zhang Shuai would close out the match smoothly as in the first set, but after Kruger broke back in the eighth game to even the score, Zhang’s momentum was halted, and she had to watch helplessly as Kruger took the second set 7-5, leveling the match.

With Kruger’s form improving and her momentum surging, Zhang Shuai once again became a major concern for fans. Even though Zhang broke first in the deciding set’s seventh game, worries about her holding on did not diminish.

Particularly in the final stages of the deciding set, when Zhang missed two match points on Kruger’s serve, anxiety grew that the Chinese star might be overturned at the last moment.

Although she missed the chance to finish earlier, Zhang Shuai did not test the nerves of her supporters on her own serve, closing out the match 6-4 and announcing her successful revenge over Kruger, delivering a notable upset in the Brisbane main draw’s opening round.

Following Zhang’s victory, opinions about her chances against Rybakina in the second round shifted, with many now saying that if the Chinese veteran can show the same resilience and form as against Kruger, she might pull off another big upset by defeating Rybakina in Brisbane.

The current confidence in Zhang Shuai partly comes from comments Rybakina made during a pre-match interview.

“I’ve had some issues during preparation because of pain in one foot that has troubled me for a while. It’s intermittent, and I try to manage it, but when it hurts, it really limits me,” Rybakina emphasized that she is not at full health, describing the foot injury as a ticking time bomb that can flare up anytime and affect her performance.

Many see the Kazakh player’s remarks as a significant advantage for Zhang Shuai, which could quietly alter the Chinese star’s fate, though it remains to be seen if Zhang can seize the opportunity.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Starry Sky)