Zhang, Samrej earn Australian Open wildcards

China’s Shuai Zhang and Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej have won the AO Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off and secured wildcard entries into the Australian Open next month.

Zhang, aged 35, will be making her 13th main draw appearance in Melbourne after 12 consecutive main draw appearances at the Australian Open from 2012 to 2023. She reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne in 2016.

Zhang defeated countrywoman Guo Hanyu 7-6(2) 0-6 7-5 win in two hours and 15 minutes to win the women’s singles event in Chengdu.

Zhang had suffered a 24-match losing streak, which ended only in late September. Her losing streak saw her ranking drop outside the top 700 before she rebounded back inside the world’s top 300.

Samrej defeated Japan’s Rio Noguchi 6-4 4-6 6-1 and it will mark his first time at a Grand Slam event.

Samrej also becomes the first Thai man to compete in a Grand Slam main draw since Danai Udomchoke at the 2012 Australian Open.

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