In the WTT Singapore Grand Slam Womenâs Quarterfinals, 17-year-old Mima Zhang fell 2-4 to Wang Manyu once again. For Zhang, Wang has become an insurmountable hurdle: she has been defeated by Wang twice in just 20 days, and all 11 of their career meetings have ended in losses for Zhang.
In the tournament, Zhang had previously beaten Mittrum, Goda, and Ohtsuka to reach the quarterfinals. But facing Wang, the challenge was immense. Zhang lost the first game 8-11 and suffered a humiliating 2-11 defeat in the second, shaking her confidence.
In the third game, she adjusted tactics and edged out Wang 11-9 after a 6-6 tie. However, leg discomfort forced a medical timeout. Upon returning, she could not regain momentum and lost the fourth game 5-11. The fifth game saw Zhang leading 7-4, but Wang caught up to 10-10. Zhang eventually managed a hard-fought 14-12 win.
In the sixth game, Zhang fought desperately but Wang closed the match 11-6, winning 4-2 overall. Zhang left the court visibly upset, almost in tears, reviewing the match briefly with her father. At just 17, Zhang still has enormous potential to grow despite these repeated defeats.
Itâs notable that Wang Manyu has remained unbeaten against any Japanese player over the past seven years, securing an astonishing 39-match winning streak.
