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 overcame McCartney Kessler 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1) in the first round of the China Open to end a run of 24 consecutive matches without a victory.

The cruel losing streak, which began in January 2023, lasted a staggering 603 days before it came to an end in Beijing.

Zhang’s luckless run ended five short of Madeleine Pegel’s record, which stands at 29 matches without a win.

It was by no means a straightforward victory for Zhang, the former world No. 22, as she had to fight back from being a break down in the first set.

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

But luckily for the 35-year-old, she blitzed the second set tiebreaker to win the match.

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

Speaking to WTA Insider after her victory, she said: “I think that this is the perfect timing.

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

Although Zhang was evidently delighted to have snapped her losing streak, one superstar may have been even happier than the 35-year-old: Coco Gauff.

The American was conducting her media duties before the China Open when she caught wind of Zhang’s triumph over Kessler.

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Gauff was delighted with the result as she lifted the lid on how Zhang left a lasting impression on her with a touching locker room moment.

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

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

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

“I love her. She deserves everything.”

Gauff and Zhang have played twice before, although both matches were before the latter’s losing streak.

It was Gauff who got the better of her rival on both occasions in 2022, beating Zhang at the US Open and the Miami Open in straight sets.

Zhang will face No. 6 seed Emma Navarro, who made the semi-final of this year’s US Open, in the second round.