Published: 14:57, January 14, 2025
China's Zheng beaten after fightback at Australian Open
By Xinhua
Zheng Saisai of China serves to Erika Andreeva of Russia during the first round of the women's singles at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan 14, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

MELBOURNE - China's Zheng Saisai was beaten at the Australian Open on Tuesday despite producing one of the shots of the tournament.

Zheng came back from a slow start but was knocked out of the Grand Slam by 20-year-old Russian Erika Andreeva 6-1, 7-6 (6) in just under two hours at Melbourne Park.

The Chinese veteran trailed 3-1 in the deciding set and looked headed for a straightforward defeat but fought all the way to the end, seeing off two match points in the tiebreak.

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With scores tied at 2-2 in the tiebreak, Zheng produced a tournament highlight when she chased down a lob and hit a shot between her legs from well behind the baseline.

Erika Andreeva of Russia hits a return to Zheng Saisai of China during the first round of the women's singles at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan 14, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The sensational shot landed just inside the sideline and drew a forced error from Andreeva.

Earlier in the final set, Andreeva had a chance to serve for the match leading 6-5 but was denied by Zheng, who converted a break point opportunity with an aggressive approach to the net to force the tiebreak.

The Russian was again forced to wait for her victory when leading 6-4 in the tiebreak, she failed to convert either of her two match points.

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Her third opportunity was not missed, however, and Andreeva closed out a thrilling second set in one hour and 23 minutes.