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Wang Xiyu of China in action during Round 2 of the 2025 Australian Open on January 16 2025, at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: VCG

All Chinese players have been eliminated from the singles events at the Australian Open, now that female players Wang Xiyu, Wang Yafan and Zhang Shuai were knocked out in the second round on Thursday.

Wang Xiyu faced eighth seed Emma Navarro of the US. Despite a valiant effort, Wang was defeated in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Notably, Wang held a 4-2 lead in the final set but was unable to maintain her advantage. 

Simultaneously, Wang Yafan competed against ninth seed Daria Kasatkina. Hampered by injuries and requiring a medical timeout in the second set, Wang succumbed 6-2, 6-0. 

Veteran Zhang Shuai, granted a wildcard entry, faced 24th seed Yulia Putintseva. Zhang was overpowered, losing 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour. Despite the loss, Zhang's first-round victory marked her first Grand Slam singles win in two years. 

2025's Australian Open witnessed a record 11 Chinese players participating in the main draw. But none of them survived till the third round, including 2024's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who was knocked out by German veteran Laura Siegemund on Wednesday.

However, in doubles, the pairings of Guo Hanyu/Alexandra Panova and Yuan Yue/Ekaterina Alexandrova advanced to the second round. Zhang, partnering with Kristina Mladenovic, also progressed in the women's doubles. 

Looking ahead, Chinese tennis enthusiasts can anticipate the upcoming doubles matches, including the encounter between Wang Xiyu/Yulia Putintseva and Wang Xinyu/Zheng Saisai, as well as the match featuring Xu Yifan/Yang Zhaoxuan against Tang Qianhui/Alycia Parks. 

Zhang Zhizhen, China's top male tennis player who was defeated in the men's singles first round, has found success in the men's doubles by partnering with Czech player Tomas Machac. 

The duo secured a first-round victory against Guido Andreozzi of Argentina and Theo Arribage of France, winning 7-5, 6-4.