Witnessed by coach Carlos Rodriguez flying from Beijing to supervise the match, Peng Shuai won the women's singles crown of the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wild Card Tournament and will play in the Australian Open women's singles main draw for the 14th time in her career, continuing to set a new record for the number of times a Chinese tennis player has appeared in the same Grand Slam.

Women's Singles Final Award Ceremony

In the women's singles final strait derby match with Zhang Kaizhen, Peng Shuai was able to stand on the championship podium when the opponent retired when he took a 6-2/1-0 lead. After the opening of the game, Zhang Kaizhen's intention to grab the extension was very fierce, and he scored four straight points to break the serve as soon as he came up, but Peng Shuai quickly stabilized his position and equalized the score through tenacious defense on the bottom line and timely counterattacks. With the increase of unforced errors, Zhang Kaizhen's pressure to hold serve in the service game increased, and Peng Shuai grabbed the serve and swept it successfully, and won the next three games to overtake the score 3-1. In the next few games, the two entered a tug-of-war, Peng Shuai maintained the lead into the 8th game, after three ties, the former Chinese women's tennis sister seized the third set opportunity, stepped up to the net to volley, 6-2 to take the next city.

Peng Shuai

Zhang Kaizhen

At this time, Zhang Kaizhen applied for a medical suspension to treat her abdomen and waist. In the past week, Zhang Kaizhen, who has taken the lead in snatching the wild card for the 2019 Australian Open women's doubles main draw on Saturday, has maintained a two-line battle and looks very tired. After the treatment, she returned to the field looking depressed and kept wiping the tears that fell from her eyes.

After only one game, feeling that his body could no longer hold on, Zhang Kaizhen chose to withdraw from the game in tears, so Peng Shuai became the final champion. "Competitive sports are so cruel, of course I hope that I will win in the end, but seeing her (Zhang Kaizhen) crying is actually quite uncomfortable."

After the game, Peng Shuai stepped forward to comfort Zhang Kaizhen, who retired due to injury

At the post-match press conference, Carlos was invited to attend with Peng Shuai, and Peng Shuai expressed his gratitude to his mentor for sacrificing his weekend rest time to watch the game, "There have been many difficulties in 2018, but after these experiences, thank God for giving me such a good coach, so I will cherish and enjoy the time of playing." ”

Peng Shuai and coach Carlos were interviewed after the game

"All I think about is eating," when it comes to returning to Melbourne to compete next year, Peng Shuai, who is immediately a "foodie", can't help but chirp, and laughs and laughs at himself and says that he is going to be laughed at by the fans. "Because the Australian Open is very close to Chinatown, and the lobster and seafood there are very delicious."

In the finale, 32-year-old veteran Li Zhe defeated Zhang Ze 1-6/7-6(2)/6-4, finally fulfilling his dream of appearing on the stage of a Grand Slam. Li Zhe will be the third Chinese men's tennis player in the Open era to appear in the main draw of a Grand Slam men's singles tournament, after Wu Di (2013 and 2014 Australian Open) and Zhang Ze (2014 and 2015).

Men's Singles Medal Ceremony

Because they know each other well, there are not too many secrets in the final between Li Zhe and Zhang Ze, and doing a good job of hair extensions has become the first key element. After the start of the game, Zhang Ze entered the state faster, breaking in the second game, compared to Li Zhe played a little shrunken, frequent mistakes, only 27 minutes, Zhang Ze swept the first set 6-1.

Zhang Ze

During the break, according to Li Zhe after the game, he took the opportunity to go to the bathroom to adjust, and he mobilized his heart. "I felt relieved when I got 2-1 up in the second set," he said, "and I lost 1-6 in three sets in two finals in a row, so I said to myself, stick to what you have set and keep playing and see if you can do it." ”

Li Zhe

As he relaxed, Li Zhe began to match Zhang Ze with his competitive level in the second set, and saved three break points in the crucial ninth game, and then boosted his morale and led all the way to win the tie-break 7-2.

Entering the deciding set, out of the desire for a wild card in the main draw of this very valuable Grand Slam men's singles main draw, the two who both showed their best form competed more fiercely. After returning the forehand from the second break point in the ninth game to the sideline, Li Zhe ushered in the most important service game of his career so far, and he finally lived up to expectations and won four straight points.

Li Zhe roared after the game

Li Zhe hid his face and wept at the award ceremony

After winning the game, Li Zhe, who was surging in his heart, stood in the center of the court and roared twice and shed tears. For a 32-year-old veteran, winning the opportunity to make his debut at a Grand Slam stage at such an age is definitely a reward for hard work and virtue.

Li Zhe was interviewed after the game

"I am very excited that through the joint efforts of myself and my team this year, I have proved that I am still competitive at this age."

"Actually, I've thought about it," Li said, referring to which player he expects to play against at next year's Australian Open, citing the names of two superstars — Nadal and Djokovic, though he then joked, "Or meet an opponent who is not so determined, so I have a chance to win." ”