China Open: After 24 consecutive losses, Zhang scores third straight win to reach last 16

Chinese wildcard Shuai Zhang had lost her last 24 matches coming into this week’s China Open, the second longest losing streak in the Open Era.

After breaking that streak in the first round, Zhang has now won three matches in a row after she beat Belgian Greet Minnen 6-2, 6-3 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on Sunday.

The Chinese player hit 29 winners to just nine unforced errors while Minnen had 19 winners against 15 unforced errors.

Ahead of her win today, the 35-year-old Chinese, currently ranked 595th in the world, defeated American McCartney Kessler (7-6 (5), 7-6 (1)) and American Emma Navarro, the No 6 seed (6-4, 6-2).

Zhang will face Pole Magdalena Frech, the No 23 seed, next for a place in the quarter-finals.

Minnen, ranked No 94, won against Russian Erika Andreeva (7-5, 6-2) and edged out Russian Anastasia Potapova, the No 28 seed (7-5, 2-6, 6-4) earlier in the tournament.

Beijing WTA 1000, other third-round matches (National Tennis Center, hard, USD 8,955,610):

• Jessica Pegula (2) beat Veronika Kudermetova (32): 6-7 (9), 6-1, 6-2
• Yuliia Starodubtseva (Q) beat Elina Avanesyan: 6-3, 6-1
• Paula Badosa (15) beat Rebecca Sramkova (Q): 7-5, 7-5
• Magdalena Frech beat Diana Shnaider (12): 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
• Nadia Podoroska vs. Qinwen Zheng
• Daria Kasatkina vs. Amanda Anisimova
• Mirra Andreeva vs. Donna Vekic
• Jasmine Paolini vs. Magda Linette
• Karolina Muchova vs. Jaqueline Cristian
• Cristina Bucsa vs. Elise Mertens
• Madison Keys vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia
• Aryna Sabalenka vs. Ashlyn Krueger
• Katie Boulter vs. Coco Gauff
• Katie Volynets vs. Naomi Osaka
• Peyton Stearns vs. Anna Kalinskaya

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