“I don’t want to stop. I want to continue winning” – Zhang reveals retirement thoughts

Just as confidence breeds confidence, diffidence breeds more of the same. Just ask Zhang Shuai.

The 35-year-old Chinese came into the WTA 1000 China Open on the back of a 24-match losing streak, the second longest on the WTA Tour. Each loss in recent months threw up more headlines and questions. It’s no surprise that Zhang thought a lot about quitting the sport each time after another loss.

“This time when I’m coming to Beijing, I have a lot pressure and nerves because I already had 24 matches lost. I have no idea how to win the match. I didn’t want another loss, 25, with all the Chinese fans. When I (was) think(ing) about this, I’m really sad. Walking back to the locker room, I didn’t know I should continue or not before the tournament. When I start to thinking about this, I feel I have no idea I should continue playing singles or stop or continue and maybe another 10 more match losses waiting for me. Very tough almost two years, more than one and a half years, without any winning,” Zhang told the media on Tuesday after scoring her fourth consecutive win to advance to the quarter-finals.

Zhang, now ranked 595 in singles and 30th in doubles, broke that streak in Beijing with a first round 7-6, 7-6 win over American McCartney Kessler. She then knocked out top 10 player Emma Navarro, and Belgium’s Greet Minnen before beating 23rd seed Magdalena Frech on Tuesday. All of those wins have come in straight sets and Zhang is understandably delighted about the turnaround.

I have to say the US Open doubles final helping me a lot, a lot. I have to thank Kiki for bringing me to the final.

Zhang Shuai

“Today was an amazing match. Special on today, National Day. I’m so proud of myself and our country. A lot fans coming from the other cities because it’s a holiday. Super energy I get from them,” Zhang told the media as she credited her run to the US Open women’s doubles final along with Kiki Mladenovic last month for building her confidence.

“I have to say the US Open doubles final helping me a lot, a lot. I have to thank Kiki for bringing me to the final. Then I start building my confidence day by day, every round match. I mean, I don’t want to stop. I want to continue winning.

Zhang also credited her coach and support team, including her friends, for continuing to believe in her, even when she did not believe in herself.

“Many of my friends in the tour, players, coach, every day they tell me, Your level is still top. But my ranking is 600. How can I trust 600? Already coming back for seven months. I didn’t play so many singles match. Still, how can you trust that you are 600 in the world, but your level is still at the top?,” Zhang said.

“Every day when I’m wake up, I try to go courts early. I can play little bit longer, I can training on match court. At US Open, any tournament, I always try to be the first one on court. I am working hard because I have my dream, but feeling very far from the dream. Sometimes after the practice, when I play some singles match, when I’m lost, I’m sad. But next day I go again, again, again every day. I trust when I’m working hard, I hope the good result coming. But sometimes I lost the faith because the good result never come. But my coach said, he said he trusts me. He said, dor sure one day, if you win one win, you can continue win a lot matches, like 2016. I think that’s helping me a lot, a lot. If someone told me, You should go retire, maybe I’m done. I’m really thankful for those around me who are always positive, always tell me, You can do it, trust yourself, trust me, you are so good. Now, I really trust myself and trust to everyone who tells me that you are so good.”

“I never saw the draw because I never really win a match” – Zhang on facing Paula Badosa next

Zhang will try to continue that streak when she meets former world No 2 Paula Badosa, who has been enjoying a revival of her own over the past few months, in the last eight. But the Chinese player is going to focus on herself and not worry who is on the other side of the court.

“I never saw the draw because I never really win a match, so there was no point for me to look forward to the next round. In this tournament, I really never think about the next match. Winning one was enough for me,” the former world No 22 said. “In this draw, everyone has a higher ranking than me. When you are barefoot, you have nothing to lose. Just step on court, just play. So I do not have much to think about, to prepare. I will just focus on myself.”

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