China Open: Gao Seeks to Forget the Past
The China Open in Changzhou is not exactly unfamiliar turf for Gao Fang Jie, but it’s been a long time since she was last here. That was back during her best years in 2017 and 2018, before an Achilles injury pretty…
· DEV SUKUMAR
The China Open in Changzhou is not exactly unfamiliar turf for Gao Fang Jie, but it’s been a long time since she was last here. That was back during her best years in 2017 and 2018, before an Achilles injury pretty much derailed her career.
The former world No.13 – runner-up at the TAHOE China Open in Fuzhou and semifinalist at what was then the China Masters in Changzhou – disappeared from the scene following an Achilles injury in January 2019. Playing Carolina Marin at the Malaysia Masters, Gao had to be wheeled off court after her left calf gave way.
“I’m very happy to play here again,” said the 24-year-old, after beating Natsuki Nidaira in straight games in the opening round. “This is my first high level match after I injured my leg, so I just tried to keep going. The Japanese player is my age, we played each other at the junior level. Now she’s higher ranked than me, so today I just wanted to see how I could cope with her.”