WHAT HAPPENED: Good things come to those who wait. For Shuai Zhang and Samantha Stosur, the yearslong wait for a US Open women’s doubles trophy is finally over, after defeating teen phenoms Coco Gauff and Catherine McNally, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, in a thrilling final.
Since first teaming up in 2013, good friends Stosur and Zhang have weathered the ecstatic highs and brutal lows of this sport. When the Chinese player contemplated retirement at the start of the 2016 season, it was Stosur who encouraged her to carry on—leading to Zhang’s first Grand Slam breakthrough to the Australian Open quarterfinals that same year.
Their intermittent partnership finally caught fire in 2018, when they teamed up to reach their first Grand Slam semifinal on these courts. Since then, they’ve gone on to capture the 2019 Australian Open trophy—an emotional home-turf triumph for Stosur.
The US Open was always the one that got away, but 37-year-old Stosur and 32-year-old Zhang were determined to not let another opportunity slip by. Coming into New York after a hard-fought win in Cincinnati, the No. 14 seeds raced into the final without dropping a set after toppling the likes of No. 3 seeds Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama and No. 7 seeds Desirae Krawczyk and Alexa Guarachi along the way.
They had not dropped a set at the US Open until running up against Gauff and McNally, the first teenagers to reach the final in Flushing Meadows since 2013. The Americans were hoping to continue the teen streak of success a day after Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez’s historic all-teen final, but the veterans’ experience shined through in the key moments.
“It's just a huge satisfaction to know what I'm doing, all the hard work, everything that you do day in, day out still pays off,” Stosur said. “You can play in an amazing stadium in front of a great crowd, serve out the match for a Grand Slam title. Be like, ‘Yeah, I can do this.’
“That's exactly what we play for, we love those moments. To have those opportunities is just the best. So thankful to still be out there competing, and being able to play the way I am.”
Each of the three sets unfolded in similar fashion: the first seven games in a row went to the servers, and the tension ratcheted up with each game and with each break opportunity saved.
The opening set turned quickly in Stosur and Zhang’s favor as they reeled off the last nine points in a row, breaking the McNally serve from 4-3, love-40. The American teens rallied the crowd in the second set, with strong serving from Gauff and bold net poaches from McNally putting the veterans under pressure. Gauff attacked a high-bouncing Zhang second-serve to grab the break at 5-3, sending the match into a deciding set.
But Stosur and Zhang silenced the home fans as they saved two break points to hold for 4-3 in the third set. Zhang split the court with a zinging cross-court backhand, and broke the McNally serve for a second time with a return winner. The pair sealed the victory—and the US Open title—after a Gauff return sailed long.
WHAT IT MEANS: Sixteen years after her first US Open doubles triumph, Stosur is a champion once again in New York City. The Aussie added a fourth Grand Slam title in doubles to her trophy cabinet, after winning the 2019 Australian Open with Zhang, and the 2005 US Open and 2006 Roland Garros titles with Lisa Raymond.
“It's just a phenomenal feeling to have this trophy again, 16 years later,” Stosur said. “Winning the singles here, I've got so many amazing memories here playing in New York. I love coming back here, I love the courts, I love the atmosphere. Obviously a very special place for me. It's brought out some of my best tennis in my career over many, many years.”
Zhang took home her second Grand Slam title on Sunday. With most of her compatriots contesting the National Games of China back home, Zhang was the only player, male or female, from her country to feature in the singles or doubles draw this year.
“For sure it was not easy [to choose to play the US Open instead]. Never easy,” Zhang said. “I am really proud that I keep playing with Sam. Sam always takes care [of] me. We are so happy we won. This means so much.”
For ‘McCoco’, the pair’s stellar run is a sign of bright things to come for the 19-year-old and 17-year-old duo. Gauff and McNally, who were contesting their first Grand Slam final, have also featured in back-to-back Australian Open quarterfinals and own three WTA doubles titles.
Although the Americans are focused more on their singles game throughout the year, they’ve shown great skill in doubles this fortnight, too. Gauff and McNally took down the top seeds, Su-Wei Hsieh and Elise Mertens, as they reached the final without dropping a set.
MATCH POINT: After spending most of the 2021 season playing with different partners in preparation for their respective Olympic campaigns, Stosur and Zhang reunited in August. The pair have won 11 matches in a row since then, including a WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati during the US Open Series and their second Grand Slam title as a team at the US Open.
