"There are so many good girls, Coco Gauff is a good girl" - Zhang Shuai opens up about cultivating comforting friendships on WTA Tour

Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai recently opened up about developing supportive friendships on the WTA Tour. On Sunday, Shuai defeated Greet Minnen to continue her dream run as she advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2024 China Open.

On her way to the pre-quarterfinals, Shuai defeated the Belgian 6-2, 6-3 in the Round of 32. Before that, she secured victories against the USA’s Emma Navarro in the Round of 64 and McCartney Kessler in the Round of 128. Notably, she had registered 24 straight losses before her appearance at the WTA 1000 tournament as a wild card.

Following her victory in the Round of 32, Shuai was asked during the post-match press conference on being well-liked on the WTA tour. She responded by stating that she isn't the only one who is well-liked, adding that players such as Coco Gauff and Greet Minnen are also admired.

She also talked about their support for each other, indicating her comforting friendships with Gauff and other tennis players on the WTA Tour. The two-time Grand Slam doubles winner said:

“Not only me is a good girl on the WTA Tour. There are so many good girls. [Greet] Minnen is a good girl. Coco [Gauff] is a good girl. They are good girls on the tour because we are very similar. We are considerate. We are heartwarming people. That's who we are.”

Zhang Shuai added:

“If you're a cold person, you ignore people, how can you have good friendships? There's no communication, right? There's no friendship.

“On court we can be aggressive, but off court we are girls. It's unlike what you see on court. We are not enemies, like what you assume, like soldiers, warriors. We're warriors on court. Off court we are not that aggressive. We also need comfort when we lose. We also need encouragement. When we are injured, sick, we also need help. So don't assume that we are all warriors. We are just ordinary girls.”

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Zhang Shuai offers inspirational message to Coco Gauff after quarterfinal exit at French Open 2023

Zhang Shuai and Coco Gauff at US Open Tennis Championship 2022. Credits: Getty Images

Zhang Shuai gave an inspirational message to Coco Gauff after the American lost against Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the 2023 French Open. Following this exit, Shuai said to Gauff during their interaction in the locker room (via Tennis365):

“Don’t worry Coco. You will win a Grand Slam.”

This proved to be true for Gauff as she went on to claim her first Grand Slam title by winning the 2023 US Open in September. She accomplished the feat by getting past Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the finals.

Following her success on the WTA Tour, Coco Gauff was also chosen as the women’s flag bearer of the USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics. With this, she also became the first-ever tennis player to carry the nation’s flag during the opening ceremony of the quadrennial games.