Chinese tennis star Zhang Shuai and France's Kristina Mladenovic have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2025 Women's Doubles following a decisive victory over fifth seeds Chan Hao-Ching of Chinese Taipei and Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine.
The match, held on January 20, 2025, at Melbourne Park, saw the ninth-seeded duo recover from an astonishingly shaky start to win with scores of 7-6(3), 6-2. This remarkable triumph marks Zhang's tenth career appearance at this level of the Grand Slam event and showcases her continued prowess on the international tennis stage.
Despite falling behind 0-4 at the beginning of the first set, Zhang and Mladenovic displayed resilience and skill. They managed to win the first set through determination and strategic play, winning 12 of the next 16 games after finally holding their serve. "Just like in the quarterfinal match between Fan and Tomokazu Harimoto at the Paris Olympics, he was 0-2 down but still managed to pull off a comeback win. If he could do it, so could I," Zhang stated, reflecting her inspiration from the success of table tennis player Fan Zhendong.
The formidable pair went on to take control of the tiebreak, powered by Zhang's aggressive play and powerful serves. Notably, after securing their place in the quarterfinals, Zhang remarked, "They [Siniakova and Townsend] are the best team in the tournament so far," expressing her awareness of the challenge they will face next.
Reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals isn't just another milestone for Zhang but continues to add to her legacy within the sport. Alongside Mladenovic, who brings her own wealth of experience, the duo has shown incredible chemistry on the court—a key aspect of their success together. Last year, they reached the US Open final as unseeded players, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure.
Looking forward, Zhang and Mladenovic are set to meet the top-seeded team of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, the reigning Wimbledon champions. Their match-up promises to be thrilling, as both teams seek to capitalize on their respective strengths and advance to the semifinals.
Zhang’s approach to maintaining her performance across multiple events at the Australian Open has proven effective. Despite her earlier exit from the singles draw, she stated, "It's okay to compete in three events. I decided to play mixed doubles only after losing in the first round of singles, so it's manageable and not as exhausting as I imagined." This perspective embodies her tenacity and love for the sport, as she continues to impress on the doubles stage.
With the tournament progressing, Zhang and Mladenovic have captured the attention of fans and commentators alike, who recognize their perseverance and stellar teamwork. If their recent performance is any indication, there are high hopes for their upcoming matches. The excitement surrounding the Australian Open 2025 continues to grow, along with the anticipation of what Zhang and Mladenovic can achieve together.