Zhang Shuai's hope of another impressive campaign at the ongoing 2017 Australian Open came to an end after Alison Riske of the United States got the better of the Chinese tennis star on Tuesday at the Show Court 3 in Melbourne Park.

The current world No. 42 American tennis ace scored a hard-earned 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 1-6 victory over the highest ranked women's singles tennis player of China. According the tournament's official website, the second-round match lasted for two hours and 45 minutes.

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With the loss, Zhang failed to make a repeat of her spectacular run in last year's edition of the Melbourne-based major tennis event.

A year ago, on the second day of the Australian Open, the 27-year-old native of Tianjin walked onto Margaret Court Arena ranked No. 133 in the world. Zhang was playing in her 15th first-round Grand Slam match without a win, facing then the world's second top-ranked Simona Halep of Romania.

According to a published report of the ESPN, everything changed 78 minutes later. The Chinese tennis competitor put on a sensational 6-4, 6-3 upset, looking simultaneously astonished and excited. It marked Zhang's first ever opening round victory in a Grand Slam event that put her in to an instant stardom.

She then proceeded to reach the fourth round following subsequent victories over French Alize Cornet andVarvara Lepchencho of the United States. In the fourth round, Zhang edged an injured Madison Keys in three sets and proceeded to the quarter finals where she lost British tennis superstar Johanna Konta in straight games (6-4, 6-1).

Zhang, who has owns a total of 20 singles titles, ended her breakthrough year with a career-high ranking of 23.

With Zhang's early departure from the competition, world No.87 Duan Yingying was the only Chinese player remaining in the draw as compatriot Peng Shuai also went down after losing to Eugenie Bouchard of Canada in their respective second-round clash.

TagsZhang Shuai, wta rankings, australian open, Alison Riske, Simona Halep