Chinese WTA star breaks unfortunate 24-year-old losing streak record
It is a record that no one would ever want to break.
However, Chinese WTA player Zhang Shuai now finds herself in the record books for all of the wrong reasons after her latest loss at the Cincinnati Open.
Shuai was handed a tough draw against rising star Diana Shnaider and proceeded to be beaten 6-1, 6-4 by her Russian opponent.
Unfortunately for the 35-year-old, that was the 22nd loss in a row she has suffered – setting a new record for the longest losing streak of the Open Era across either the WTA or ATP.
A winner of three WTA singles titles and a former world No 22, Shuai started the 2023 season brightly with a run to round four of the Australian Open.
She was just one spot below her career-high ranking when she won her last match at the beginning of February 2023, defeating Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-2 in round one of the Lyon Open.
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Shuai lost 6-2, 6-0 to Maryna Zanevska in round two, kickstarting her nightmare run.
Injuries have taken their toll, with the Chinese star not playing from the 2023 Canadian Open until the 2024 Dubai Tennis Championships, and she is currently using a protected ranking to enter events.
But, having reached her career-high in January 2023, she has slumped down to 689th in the WTA Rankings – and there have been no recent signs of a surge into form.
Six of her 22 losses have come in 2024 and she has won just two sets across those matches, in the ‘Sunshine Double’ swing at Indian Wells and Miami.
She has managed to maintain some level of success in doubles, sitting at 61st in the WTA Doubles Rankings.
The previous record holder was ATP player Vince Spadea, who went on a 21-match losing run from October 1999 to June 2000.
Zhang Shuai’s 22 straight defeats
2023 Lyon Open Round 2: 6-2, 6-0 to Maryna Zanevska
2023 Abu Dhabi Open: 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 to Anett Kontaveit
2023 Qatar Open: 7-5, 6-2 to Petra Kvitova
2023 Dubai Tennis Championships: 6-3, 6-1 to Zheng Qinwen
2023 Indian Wells: 3-0 ret. to Rebecca Peterson
2023 Charleston Open: 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to Julia Grabher
2023 Strasbourg Open: 6-0, 6-0 to Anna-Lena Friedsam
2023 French Open: 6-1, 6-1 Magdalena Frech
2023 Nottingham Open: 6-1, 6-4 to Tatjana Maria
2023 Birmingham Classic: 6-4, 6-3 to Emina Bektas
2023 Eastbourne International: 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-1 to Harriet Dart
2023 Wimbledon: 6-2, 6-3 to Donna Vekic
2023 Hungarian Open: 6-5 ret. to Amarissa Toth
2023 Warsaw Open: 7-6(3), 6-4 to Tereza Martincova
2023 Prague Open: 6-2, 6-2 to Yuan Yue
2023 Canadian Open: 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to Anna Blinkova
2024 Dubai Tennis Championships: 6-3, 7-5 to Karolina Pliskova
2024 Indian Wells: 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 to Mai Hontama
2024 Miami Open: 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to Daria Saville
2024 Madrid Open: 6-3, 6-2 to Shelby Rogers
2024 Wimbledon: 6-3, 6-0 to Daria Kasatkina
2024 Cincinnati Open: 6-1, 6-4 to Diana Shnaider
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