Taipei, Jan. 20 (CNA) - The Australian Open 2025 has seen mixed fortunes for Taiwanese tennis players Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) and Chan Hao-ching (詹皓晴) as they faced significant challenges on the court. Hsieh, who made headlines last year for her historic double victory, was eliminated from the mixed doubles competition, leaving her with only the women's doubles to pursue.
On Monday, Hsieh and her Polish partner Jan Zielinski faced the American-Russian pair of Jackson Withrow and Irina Khromacheva. The sixth-seeded duo's hopes ended with a disappointing 4-6, 4-6 defeat, marking the end of their title defense.
Despite advancing smoothly through the first round, entering the second match with high expectations, Hsieh and Zielinski encountered difficulties early on. They committed key errors, falling behind after suffering breaks at pivotal moments. Reported by TVBS News, Hsieh's team leveraged strong serves initially, holding service for the first six games of the second set. Yet, it was their inability to capitalize on three break opportunities, paired with the opponents' tenacity, leading to their exit from the tournament.
Hsieh's performance is particularly noteworthy as she’s been Taiwan's leading tennis figure. Following her impressive achievements at last year's Australian Open, where she made history by winning both the women's and mixed doubles titles, her fans remained hopeful for another round of success. Now, they are eager to see how she fares with her new partner, Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, as they prepare for their quarterfinals match against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk and Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Coinciding with Hsieh's elimination, Chan Hao-ching also faced defeat earlier with her partner, Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine. They lost their last-16 tie, casting shadows over the Taiwanese contingent. The match concluded with Zhang Shuai of China and Kristina Mladenovic from France overpowering them, winning 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.
While Hsieh's mixed doubles run fell short, her presence still shines brightly as she competes for the women's doubles title. This competition is significant, bringing forward the hope of reclaiming glory for Taiwanese tennis on the world stage.
Fans and commentators alike are now turning their attention to Hsieh's upcoming match, seeking signs of resilience and success after the bittersweet conclusion of her mixed doubles campaign. Will she rise to the occasion and push through to the semifinals? The anticipation is palpable as Hsieh prepares to write another chapter of her impressive career at the Australian Open.