China's Zhang reaches Australian Open quarterfinals

Updated: 2016-01-25 22:10

By Sun Xiaochen(chinadaily.com.cn)

China's Zhang reaches Australian Open quarterfinals

China's Zhang Shuai reacts during her fourth round match against Madison Keys of the US at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 25, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Zhang, who turned 27 on Thursday, will next play Johanna Konta who became the first British woman since Jo Durie in 1984 to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal by beating Russia's Ekaterina Makarova 4-6 6-4 8-6.

Zhang's journey into the second week of the tournament has comforted Chinese fans, who were desperate for another star performer at the Grand Slam after Li retired in 2014 with a chronic knee injury.