MELBOURNE, Australia — Nine days ago, Zhang Shuai was nearly on a plane back to China before the Australian Open began. The French veteran Virginie Razzano was serving for the match against her in the final round of qualifying, but Zhang was able to break back and win the third set 8-6 — along with a spot in the main draw.
Now, the No. 133-ranked Zhang, who considered retiring from tennis after a dismal 2015 season, is into the quarterfinals of the season's first major after defeating an injured Madison Keys 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Monday.
Keys, who broke through to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal in Melbourne last year, dominated the first set with powerful groundstrokes that Zhang had trouble returning, breaking the Chinese player at love in the opening game of the match.