Zhu Lin wants to follow Li Na's Grand Slam footsteps
Zhu Lin hopes to emulate her compatriot and win a Grand Slam title one day
Just over a month ago, China's Zhu Lin lost 6-4, 6-4 to Ons Jabeur at the Guangzhou International Women's Open.
Last night at the OCBC Arena, the 21-year-old world No. 161 exacted revenge on her Tunisian rival, winning 4-1, 4-2 at the WTA Rising Stars Invitational.
Zhu Lin needed just 34 minutes to see off the 172-ranked Jabeur, who is also 21.
She told The New Paper later: "I think I played really well tonight.
"I'm so happy to be here as one of the rising stars and I really like Singapore's weather and court.
"Now, I hope to be able to go to the Rising Stars final (on Sunday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium)."
Zhu Lin is determined to end her 2015 on a high, after reaching several milestones over the past year.
She reached a career-high ranking of 107 in May, and also made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon two months later.
Zhu Lin, who grew up idolising Swiss five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis, also beat 2010 Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone back to back at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, and then the Miami Open three weeks later.
Described on WTA's official website as a "shy and soft-spoken personality with a driven work ethic", Zhu Lin told TNP she wanted to emulate her compatriot Li Na and win a singles Grand Slam title one day.
In last night's other Rising Stars match, France's world No. 35 Caroline Garcia, 22, beat 18-year-old Haitian-Japanese Naomi Osaka 4-1, 1-4, 4-1.
Garcia was expected to make short work of the teenager, who is ranked No. 202, but had some scary moments before wrapping up the win in just under an hour.
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