Zhang Shuai’s Australian Open Run Ends in Second Round Defeat

MELBOURNE, Australia — Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai‘s promising start to the 2025 Australian Open came to an abrupt end on Thursday as she was defeated by 24th seed Yulia Putintseva in the second round. The match, which lasted just 62 minutes, ended with a score of 6-2, 6-1 in favor of the Kazakh player.

Zhang, ranked 204th in the world, struggled to find her rhythm against Putintseva, committing 32 unforced errors compared to her opponent’s mere five. Putintseva’s relentless efficiency and precise shot-making left Zhang scrambling, as she won the first five games of the match and maintained control throughout.

Despite a brief rally late in the first set, Zhang was unable to recover. Putintseva broke Zhang’s serve in the marathon first game of the second set and quickly built a commanding 3-0 lead. Zhang managed to get on the board in the fifth game, but it was too little, too late as Putintseva closed out the match with ease.

“I felt like I was playing well from the start,” Putintseva said after the match. “I knew I had to stay focused and not give her any opportunities to come back.”

Zhang had entered the tournament on a high note, earning her place through a wildcard and defeating world No. 47 McCartney Kessler in the first round. However, her form deserted her against Putintseva, who advanced to the third round in Melbourne for the fourth time in her career.

Putintseva will now face ninth seed Daria Kasatkina, who earlier defeated China‘s Wang Yafan 6-2, 6-0. Kasatkina, known for her consistency and tactical play, will present a formidable challenge for Putintseva as the tournament progresses.

Zhang’s early exit marks a disappointing end to what had been a resurgence for the veteran player. After a strong start to the season, she will now look to regroup and prepare for upcoming tournaments.