Zhang Shuai's withdrawal from Guangzhou Open still makes her the biggest winner of the Chinese season, is Sun Lulu's first title on the way?

The women's singles semifinals of the Guangzhou Tennis Open began today. Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai suddenly put down her racket and shook hands with the umpire when trailing 2-5 in the first set — an injury withdrawal ended her Guangzhou campaign, but the veteran's journey is far from over.

This match was the second career face-off between Zhang Shuai and Li Ann. Their last meeting dates back to the 2021 Australian Open, where Li Ann won. After more than four years, Zhang, playing at home, was eager for sweet revenge.

In terms of competitive form, Li Ann, the tournament's second seed, had not dropped a set in the first three rounds and was in excellent shape.

Meanwhile, 36-year-old Zhang Shuai entered the tournament with a wildcard and had to battle through three sets in her first two rounds. In the quarterfinals, she endured a grueling 2-hour and 53-minute battle against Volynets, narrowly winning 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-5. That marathon match ended late at night and was a huge test of stamina for the veteran.

From the start, both players set a brisk pace. Li Ann showcased her trademark powerful baseline shots with decisive strokes; Zhang responded with sharp-angled baseline balls, mixing in timely drop shots and net approaches to try and disrupt the rhythm.

Zhang's fatigue was noticeable from the beginning. In the first set, she managed to rally with Li Ann on the baseline through the first four games, maintaining good speed and quality on her returns. Both players held serve, bringing the score to 2-2.

However, as the match progressed and Li Ann led 5-2, an unexpected moment occurred — Zhang chose to retire while trailing 2-5.

After the match, Zhang admitted to Li Ann that she was "simply too exhausted." Her retirement was both a reluctant decision and a strategic one — reaching the semifinals had already fulfilled her goal for this tournament.

Despite falling short in the semifinals, Zhang remains the top-performing Chinese player this season.

Throughout the China Open, Wuhan Open, and Guangzhou Open, Zhang has won eight matches, the highest among all Chinese "golden flowers." Returning to a tour semifinal at age 36 is a testament to her persistence and resilience.

According to the schedule, Zhang will compete next week at the WTA 250 Hong Kong Open, where she will face Eliaevets again in the first round, whom she recently met in the second round of the Guangzhou Open.

Two days ago, they faced off in Guangzhou, where Zhang, despite moments of emotional loss of control, came back from behind to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

For Zhang, her performance in Hong Kong is crucial — it will determine whether she can return to the world top 100. Currently ranked 106th, she is only 33 points shy of the top 100! A deep run in Hong Kong could give her the upper hand.

In the other semifinal, qualifier Sun Lulu swept her opponent, Chinese-American player Liu Jingwen, in straight sets 6-0, 7-6(3), extending her winning streak to six matches since the qualifiers.

After the match, Sun Lulu thanked the crowd in Chinese and expressed her hopes for the final, saying she just wants to do her best and fight hard regardless of the opponent. She also commented on the all-Chinese semifinal lineup this year, saying it’s great for both the tournament and the fans, joking that "fans don’t have to worry about who to support, just cheer for everyone!"

Next, Sun Lulu will aim for her first career tour title. Starting from the qualifiers and with six consecutive wins, this New Zealand Chinese rising star's Guangzhou journey has been nothing short of legendary. Currently, betting odds favor Sun Lulu at 2.5 over Li Ann's 3.6, making her the favorite to win. While Li Ann may have more final experience and fame, Sun Lulu's aggressive playing style makes this a highly competitive match. What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)