Definitely, Zhang Shuai is ruthless with the French players.
After Alizé Cornet, the Chinese defeated Clara Burel (7-6, 7-5 in 2h12), this Saturday afternoon, on the Simonne-Mathieu court.
A surprise guest at this level of the competition, the Bretonne, who was able to count on good support from the public, can harbor some regrets in the face of a rival who had already beaten her two weeks ago in Strasbourg.
Especially on his first run.
Perfectly varying rounded hits and powerful forehands to disrupt her opponent, Alexia Dechaume's protégé led 2-0, two balls 3-0.
In a fiercely contested set, where the two players struggled to maintain their commitment, Burel served for the set at 5-4, then 6-5.
Burel pushed to the fault
But experience has spoken.
As in the previous round against Cornet, the marathoner Zhang, 31, perfectly managed the decisive game by pushing the Habs to the fault.
Mentally touched, the Frenchwoman let go by conceding her throw-in from the start of the second set.
But she was able to come back without panicking at 3-3 by converting her… seventh break point.
In a yo-yo match, the Habs yielded to 4-4 on a 14-minute long service game where they nevertheless had six opportunities to gain the advantage.
Then unbroken with a shutout to pick up at 5-5.
Before releasing his face-off again. And the match ...
Burel, who is resuming his march forward this season after a year wasted by an operation on his left wrist, has not lost everything.
In addition to a check for 126,000 euros (while she had raised 82,000 euros since the start of her young career), the Rennaise will gain a little 110 places in the WTA.
And become even more aware of its potential ...