WHAT HAPPENED: The meeting between Zhang Shuai and No. 16 Samantha Stosur in the US Open’s second round on Thursday was just the pair’s second meeting. But these two know each other well, and not from Stosur’s straight-set victory over Zhang at this year’s French Open.



Stosur and Zhang have been been practicing together this week preparing to play together in the doubles draw. Whether that contributed to Zhang's comfort level or not, the Chinese player looked prepared and in control in a 6-3, 6-3 route on the Grandstand that pushes her to a career-best third round berth here at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.



Zhang was in disbelief after the match, calling Stosur her best friend.



“She helped me a lot, I’m feeling so sorry about her,” Zhang said. “I still can’t believe I beat Sam... I didn’t think I can beat her because she was champion at the US Open because she has very good spin, very good serve. It’s tough to play against her.”



While Stosur’s stacked resume – including that US Open title in 2011 – might have looked on paper to be the ultimate trump card going into the match, Zhang, the word No. 51, has also broken through of late. Thursday’s match represented her first second round match in her tenth appearance at the US Open.



Zhang blunted Stosur’s power off her forehand side well and pushed the ball toward the Aussie’s backhand, where Stosur looked ill at ease. A few mis-steps on Stosur’s serve -- despite her 70 percent first serve percentage, a shot that rarely bothered Zhang -- and an effective return game earned three breaks of serve at key moments in the first set. She followed with a second break in the second set and calmly served out the match. It was a relatively uneventful victory for the highest-ranked woman from China, overcoming the fact that she came into the match with a 6-29 record against Top 20 opponents.



WHAT IT MEANS: Stosur is a Slam champion and a former Top Five player who's also been ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles. As of late, though, her career has been up and down. She exited the Australian Open and Wimbledon early, but made a run to the semifinals at Roland Garros.



Stosur was once one of the world’s top players, notching wins against the best in the game, including No. 1 Serena Williams. When Stosur lost against an un-seeded qualifier at the Australian Open this year, she waved off questions that she would retire.

Zhang came into this year’s Australian Open 0-14 in Grand Slam first-round matches. She broke through to the quarterfinals in Australia and now a third-round berth at the US Open should give her newfound confidence.



QUESTION: Except for the consistency of No. 1 seed Serena Williams, the women’s game has been in flux, with comers and goers at the top. It appeared Stosur was primed for a US Open run, with two WTA titles last year. Are more upsets to come and who do you think are the lower or unseeded players to challenge the higher seeds as the draw plays out?