China's Zhang Shuai returns the ball during the 4th round match of women's singles against Madison Keys of the United States at the Australian Open Tennis Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Bi Mingming)
Zhang Shuai's fairytale run to this year's Australian Open quarter-finals may not have had the atypical ending, but the 27-year-old battler still feels like a winner.
Talking to the press in Melbourne after her 6-4, 6-1 loss to unseeded Brit Johanna Konta on Wednesday, Zhang was extremely upbeat.
Although the world No. 133 fell three wins shy of capturing a miracle, maiden Grand Slam title, Zhang said she'd leave Melbourne Park with no regrets.
"In my heart, I'm feeling I've already won the tournament because I've won seven matches," Zhang told press after the match on Wednesday.
"It doesn't matter win or lose today, (I'm going to) just keep going."
Zhang admitted she ran out of puff against Konta, saying her three-set win over Madison Keys in the earlier hours of Australia Day on Tuesday morning hindered her performance.
"I'm feeling so tired," Zhang said on Wednesday.
"Everything feeling very slow on court."
Virtually unknown outside of China before the start of this year's Australian Open, Zhang's made worldwide headlines after beating world No. 2 Simona Halep in the first round.
Australians have always loved their underdogs and Zhang ticked all the boxes, knocking off the second seed for her first win in a Grand Slam in 14 attempts.
It's a surprise to all, including Zhang herself. Zhang told reporters she'd considered calling it quits after a harrowing 2015 campaign where she plummeted 124 spots down the WTA rankings.
"The last few months ... I was feeling very sad every day. I almost retired," she said after beating Halep last week.
"But, you know, so many people help ... give me more motivation. It feels like a dream come true."
Zhang plans to open a coffee shop once she gives up tennis. But after picking up a cheque for 263 thousand U.S. dollars for her quarter-final run at the Open, won't need to quit her day job anytime soon.
Zhang will now set her sights on representing China at the Rio Olympics in August.
"It's (going to be) very tough because (for) all the Chinese players the goal this year is ... to play the Olympic Games," Zhang said on Wednesday.
