MELBOURNE, Australia — For Zhang Shuai, a possible departure point became a long-awaited arrival.
Zhang, a Chinese qualifier who had been 0-14 at Grand Slam tournaments, contemplated retirement after the United States Open in September, and brought her parents with her to Melbourne so they could see her compete for the first time in what she thought might be her final tournament.
Instead, the trip became an affirming triumph, with Zhang finally notching her first Grand Slam win against one of the game’s very best, second-seeded Simona Halep, 6-4, 6-3.
“To play against the great player, I’m feeling no more nervous, you know, because nothing to lose,” she said.