Zhang poised to challenge the best

Chinese star Zhang Shuai is challenging the world's top players at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, the Tour's year-end event, which runs through Sunday in the Guangdong city.

The 27-year-old Zhang has had a career-best season. At January's Australian Open she grabbed her first match victory in a Grand Slam tournament after 14 failed attempts and made it all the way to the quarterfinals after upsetting then world No 2 Simona Halep.

Zhang maintained her good form en route to capturing her first career main-draw singles victory in New York after earning her 10th trip to the US Open in August.