Mathieu Warnier, Media365, published on Friday December 27, 2024 at 3:15 p.m.
Thanks to Xinyu Gao and Zhizhen Zhang, China dominated Brazil for their entry into the 2025 edition of the United Cup.
China is off to a good start in the 2025 edition of the United Cup. Following on from Kazakhstan's success against Spain, the delegation from the “Middle Kingdom” did the same during its duel against Brazil. In the absence of Qinwen Zheng, who preferred to focus on her preparation for the competition, it was Xinyu Gao who opened the hostilities against Beatriz Haddad Maia. If the Brazilian started the match with a bang with the entry break, she was unable to convert her first set point on the Chinese commitment. The latter then took her chance to return to five games everywhere… before losing her serve again. After discarding two new break points, the 17th in the world pocketed this first hooked round. The second was a real showdown between the two players, who didn't give up. We had to wait until the eighth game to see the first break point in favor of the 175th in the world.
Gao launched China well
The latter nevertheless trembled when concluding. But, when it came time to conclude the set on opposing service, Xinyu Gao found the resources to reignite the suspense. The third round started on the same basis, with two solid players on their respective commitments. However, the often crucial seventh game turned in favor of Beatriz Haddad Maia, who took her opponent's serve. The Chinese found the resources to immediately erase this service game and make the Brazilian doubt. The latter, when serving to snatch a decisive game, lost her footing. The first match point was the right one for Xinyu Gao (5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in 3h20'), who put China in the best position after a very long fight. It was then up to Zhizhen Zhang to conclude his confrontation with Thiago Monteiro. The first round was decided on a single point.
Monteiro without solution against Zhang
Indeed, while the two players did not leave the slightest gap to exploit during the first three games, it was a blank break which offered the Chinese the possibility of taking the lead on the scoreboard. Regaining his serenity, Thiago Monteiro never managed to push his opponent back. Zhizhen Zhang then did not tremble to seal the fate of the set with another shutout. A scenario which completely took the Brazilian out of the match. Indeed, only managing to score one point on his opponent's serve, the 109th in the world was in great difficulty with his commitment. Converting three of his four break points, the Chinese left his opponent no chance, concluding his series of six games won consecutively on the first match point. With this success (6-3, 6-0 in 56 minutes), Zhizhen Zhang offers victory to China, with the mixed doubles which will not change the situation and will be contested for honor.
