Tennis News: China Dominates Australian Open Women’s Qualifying Round

Jan 18, 2016 03:22 PM EST

(Photo : gettyimages.com) World’s No. 132 Shuai Zhang battled her way for her fifth consecutive Australian Open appearance after beating the veteran Virginie Razzano of France.

The final day of qualification for this year's Australian Open was dominated by Chinese women with three players successfully navigating their way into the main draw of the competition.

World's No. 132 Shuai Zhang battled her way into her fifth consecutive Australian Open appearance after beating the veteran Virginie Razzano of France (no. 209^th) in a two-and-a-half hour match.

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With a lively crowd on her side, the 26-year-old Chinese tennis player rallied back from a one-set deficit to claim the match 4-6, 6-2, 8-6.

"I am so happy that many Chinese people came to watch and support me today," Zhang said. "I fought very well. One more time into the main draw."

The top seed of the qualifier and world's No. 101 Qiang Wang eased past Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands (No. 137) 6-2, 6-3 and secured her Australian Open ticket in less than an hour.

Ranked No. 139, Yafan Wang completed the triple for the Chinese by edging No. 144 Kristina Kucova of Slovakia in three tight sets, 5-7 7-6(5) 6-3 - confirming her first Australian Open and Grand Slam appearance in her entire tennis career.

Other Chinese Kai-Lin Zhang and Lin Zhu were beaten out in straight sets by their respective opponents, closing the gates for them to qualify for the prestigious tennis tournament. Zhu, who is ranked No. 192, bowed down to No. 169 Maria Sakkari of Greece and world No. 152 Zhang yielded to Naomi Osaka of Japan. 18-year-old Osaka currently ranks as the world No. 127 and with her victory over Zhang, the Japanese tennis player backed up her career-best quarterfinal appearance in Brisbane earlier this month to make her Grand Slam first performance.

In the other qualifying matches, American second seed and No. 105 Nicole Gibbs beats the Serbian Ivana Jorovic (No. 187) and fifth seeded Anastasija Sevastova (No. 114) of Latvia overrun Julia Boserup (No. 19) of the United States. Seventh seed Kristyna Pliskova (No.117) of Czech Republic defeated the American Sachia Vickery to join her sister Karolina Pliskova in the main draw.

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