Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai eliminated Romanian star Simona Halep from the Australian Open in their first round match on Tuesday, January 19. Shuai beat Halep in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 after a 78-minute match.

Halep's elimination is probably the biggest surprise of this year's Australian Open as the Romanian who is second in the WTA ranking of the best women's tennis players in the world was considered to be one of the favorites to winning the tournament.

For Chinese Zhang Shuai, this is the first Grand Slam win in 15 attempts. She will next play against French Alize Cornet.

For the presence on the main board, Simona Halep will get 10 WTA points and a prize of some EUR 22,000. The Romanian made it to the quarterfinals of Australian Open in 2014 and 2015.

Two other Romanians are still playing at the Australian Open, namely Monica Niculescu and Alexandra Dulgheru. Both players made it to the second round.

Romania’s Simona Halep makes it to Sydney semifinals

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com