Chinese tennis has seen champions for two consecutive weeks! Zhang Shuai swept the women's doubles final and heads to the Australian Open as a titleholder.

On January 16th Beijing time, the women's doubles final of the WTA500 Adelaide tournament concluded. The second-seeded international duo of China's Zhang Shuai and Czech star Siniakova performed brilliantly, defeating the cross-national team of L. Chichinok/Krutsik 6-1, 6-4 in straight sets in under an hour and a half to claim the trophy emphatically.

Before the match, professional tennis analysis platforms and bookmakers widely favored the Zhang/Siniakova pairing, based on two key factors: their previous successful collaborations and their extensive experience in finals.

Zhang Shuai had previously won 15 doubles titles on the tour, while Siniakova boasts 32 championships. Although their opponents Chichinok/Krutsik showed some strength, they were clearly at a disadvantage in terms of major tournament experience and team chemistry. Odds reflected this, with Zhang’s team having a winning probability around 1.40, while an upset by their opponents was priced above 2.80.

Fans' predictions overwhelmingly supported Zhang’s team. In pre-match polls across major tennis forums, over 80% of supporters believed the Chinese-Czech duo would win in straight sets, with about 60% accurately forecasting the score margin.

Once the final began, facing the well-coordinated Chichinok/Krutsik team, Zhang and Siniakova immediately displayed dominant control. In the first set, the Sino-Czech pair quickly found their rhythm, using precise serves and aggressive net play to command the pace. They pressured their opponents’ service games repeatedly, breaking serve multiple times to take the set 6-1 in less than 30 minutes.

In the second set, Chichinok/Krutsik improved their form, leveling the score at 3-3 after six games. However, at the crucial moment, Zhang and Siniakova’s rich experience and strong teamwork shone through. They secured a key break in the seventh game and held onto their lead to close the match 6-4, allowing their opponents to hold serve only five times throughout the match.

This victory marks another significant achievement for the partnership of Zhang Shuai and Siniakova, who had previously won a title together at the 2024 Guangzhou Open.

After the match, Zhang Shuai expressed her excitement: “We had a clear strategy before the match to put pressure on the opponents’ second serve. I’m glad we executed it very well.” Regarding the upcoming Australian Open, the veteran Chinese player said, “This title gives us great confidence. We will carry this momentum to Melbourne.”

Siniakova praised her partner’s performance: “Zhang Shuai was outstanding at the net today, her anticipation and reactions helped us win many crucial points.” Reflecting on their collaboration, Siniakova shared, “I was actually quite exhausted, and Zhang helped me a lot today.” This mutual support is a key factor behind their repeated successes.

News of Zhang Shuai’s championship quickly sparked enthusiastic reactions within the Chinese tennis community, with fans flooding social media with congratulations.

“Zhang Shuai is truly impressive!” one fan succinctly expressed respect for the veteran Chinese player. “Old warriors never die, respect!” another highly upvoted comment admired Zhang’s enduring career.

Some fans also noted the significance of this title for Chinese tennis: “With Chinese players winning titles two weeks in a row, our tennis is entering a promising era!”

More technical fans analyzed: “Zhang and Siniakova’s coordination is growing stronger, covering the court left and right, with diverse tactics that make it hard for opponents to find weaknesses.”

Winning in Adelaide gave Zhang Shuai a strong start to her 2026 season. Next, she will head to Melbourne to compete in the Australian Open. According to tennis media, Zhang is confirmed to partner with Belgian star Mertens for the Australian Open doubles event. Notably, they have teamed up five times before and reached the Wimbledon final in 2022.

Mertens is currently ranked fifth in the world in doubles, with Zhang ranked 16th, indicating they are likely to receive a favorable seed.

Regarding the upcoming Australian Open, Zhang maintained her usual pragmatic approach: “We prepare seriously for every match. Doubles especially requires good communication and coordination with your partner. We will give our best.”

At the award ceremony, Zhang and Siniakova lifted the trophy together, sunlight shining on their smiling faces. Nearby, Australian Open promotional flags fluttered in the breeze. For Zhang Shuai, this victory is not just a title but another highlight in her nearly two-decade-long career. Her story continues, and what will happen at the Australian Open next? Let’s wait and see.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Lu Xiaotian)