Chinese tennis star Zhu Lin’s electrifying journey at the Ningbo Open came to a dramatic halt Friday, as Russia’s Diana Shnaider staged a comeback to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a rollercoaster quarterfinal match. 🌪️
The 31-year-old Zhu, cheered by a passionate home crowd, dominated early with her signature power plays, crushing the first set 6-2. Fans dared to dream of another upset after her earlier wins over Emma Raducanu and top seed Mirra Andreeva. But Shnaider, 21, flipped the script 🔄 in the second set, tightening her serves and forcing Zhu into defensive rallies.
By the decider, fatigue seemed to catch up with Zhu as Shnaider raced to a 6-1 victory. 🏃♀️💨 The Russian advances to face compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova, while Zhu shifts focus to the Guangzhou Open, aiming to channel her Ningbo momentum into a deeper run. 🎯
Zhu’s performance—a mix of grit and flair—proved why she’s a fan favorite, even in defeat. Who’s ready to see her bounce back? 🙌
