Zhang Shuai (R) of China/Samantha Stosur of Australia compete during the women's doubles round robin match against Xu Yifan of China/Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen on Oct. 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
SHENZHEN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Two local Chinese players were in action in a purple group round-robin doubles match at the WTA Finals Shenzhen on Tuesday, as 7th seeds Zhang Shuai/Australian Samantha Stosur defeated No. 4-seeded Xu Yifan/Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada, 4-6, 6-4 (10-5).
Zhang/Stosur got an early break to storm to a 3-0 lead out of the gate off consistent first service shooting. But they would begin to slip following this early show of strength, double-faulting twice and surrendering this early lead.
Xu Yifan (L) of China/Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada talk to each other during the women's doubles round robin match against Zhang Shuai of China/Samantha Stosur of Australia at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen on Oct. 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
Dabrowski/Xu were undeterred and responded with two breaks of their own to go up 4-3, never facing breaks point again and firing off an ace on the way to serving out the first set in just over half an hour.
The second set was a much more closely-fought affair. Each side held to love on their opening services, but Zhang/Stosur were made to sweat on each of their remaining services on the way to a 4-3 lead, saving a total of nine break points.
Xu Yifan (top L) of China/Gabriela Dabrowski (top R) of Canada compete during the women's doubles round robin match against Zhang Shuai of China/Samantha Stosur of Australia at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen on Oct. 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
This resilience on the part of Zhang/Stosur would prove decisive, as the pair converted a break point to love to break the stalemate and seal the second set to force a deciding tiebreak.
Zhang/Stosur quickly stormed to a 5-2 lead in the tiebreak and never looked back from there, stitching up the win in just under 90 minutes. The pair now have one win and one loss in the purple group round-robin standings. ■
