United Cup: Zhang, Gao lead China to victory over Brazil

China complete a 3-0 sweep over Brazil, including an upset win for Gao over world No 17 Haddad Maia

Zhizhen Zhang (Imago/Panoramic)

December 27, 2024

China defeated Brazil 3-0 in Group E action on the first day of the United Cup in Perth, Australia with Xinyu Gao and Zhizhen Zhang both scoring singles victories over their Brazilian counterparts.

Gao, who came in as a replacement for the injured Qinwen Zheng into the team, upset 17th-ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in a three-hour, 22-minute battle to give China a solid 1-0 lead. This was the longest women’s singles match in the tournament’s history to date.

Both players had medical issues in the match. Gao needed a medical time out in the second set following which she played with her left thigh strapped while Haddad Maia suffered from cramps late in the third set which forced her to serve underarm several times.

“I have no idea what’s going on right now,” Gao said during the on-court interview. “My brain was empty and my whole body was cramping.”

In contrast, Zhang coasted to a comfortable 6-3, 6-0 win over Thiago Monteiro in 54 minutes, giving China an unbeatable 2-0 lead.

“I can understand how much pressure [Gao] took [off],” Zhang said during his on-court interview. “I had a lot of pressure in the same situation last year. I won a tough three-setter, and Qinwen had a high ranking. It was because of my team, they did a great job.”

In the mixed doubles rubber, Zhang and countrywoman Shuai Zhang defeated Rafael Matos and Carolina Alves 6-4, 7-5 to complete a 3-0 sweep for the Chinese team.