“I love her” – Coco Gauff is thrilled as two-time Grand Slam champion Zhang Shuai finally ends her 24-game losing streak

Chinese tennis star Zhang Shuai has finally ended the second-longest losing streak in WTA Tour history – much to the delight of Coco Gauff.

Zhang defeated McCartney Kessler 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1) in the first round of the China Open, ending a streak of 24 consecutive games without a win.

The brutal series of defeats, which began in January 2023, lasted an incredible 603 days before coming to an end in Beijing.

Zhang's luckless run ended five times shy of Madeleine Pegel's record of 29 games without a win.

It was by no means an easy win for Zhang, the former world number 22, as she had to fight back from a loss in the first set.

Zhang – a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion who triumphed at the Australian Open and US Open – was also broken as she served for the match in the second set.

But fortunately for the 35-year-old, she mastered the tiebreak in the second set and won the match.

Zhang has been incredibly unlucky in some of her first-round draws at various tournaments this year, having to play Daria Kasatkina, Diana Shnaider, Veronika Kudermetova and Karolina Pliskova.

Speaking to WTA Insider after her win, she said: “I think this is the perfect time.”

“My first win in a WTA tournament was 15 years ago at the China Open, and the next day I beat the No. 1 player.” [Dinara Safina in 2009]. “Maybe God has a plan.”

Although Zhang was obviously happy to break her dry spell, one superstar was perhaps even happier than the 35-year-old: Coco Gauff.

The American was completing her media duties before the China Open when she learned of Zhang's triumph over Kessler.

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Gauff was pleased with the result as she talked about how Zhang left a lasting impression on her with a touching locker room moment.

“She said, ‘Don’t worry, Coco. You're going to win a Grand Slam,'” Gauff told WTA Insider.

“‘I have so much faith in you. I'd bet my life on it.' And then I won the US Open [in 2023]!

“I never told her that, but it stayed with me for a long time, just that she had that belief in me. I think every player on the tour likes them, that’s why it’s so great to see them win.”

“I love her. She deserves everything.”

Gauff and Zhang have played twice before, although both games came before Zhang's losing streak.

It was Gauff who defeated her rival both times in 2022, defeating Zhang in straight sets at the US Open and Miami Open.

Zhang will face No. 6 seed Emma Navarro, who reached the semifinals of this year's US Open, in the second round.