WUHAN - Under the bright lights of the Wuhan Optics Valley International Tennis Center, Zhang Shuai waved to the cheering crowd after her third-round loss to world No. 3 Coco Gauff on Thursday night.

The scoreboard showed 3-6, 2-6, but the applause sounded like it was for a champion.

The 36-year-old veteran had just completed a week that felt like a comeback story. "Four straight days of matches in doubles and singles, and I'm still in great shape," Zhang said. "At my age, I see endless possibilities of myself."

From world No 22 to No 595

Zhang reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 22 in early 2023, but a year later her career nearly collapsed. A string of injuries and confidence issues sent her into a 24-match losing streak that lasted for months. In 2024, her ranking dropped to as low as No. 595 - a stunning fall for a player who had twice reached Grand Slam quarterfinals.

"For a long time, I didn't know how to win," Zhang said. "I even thought maybe it was time to stop."

But she didn't stop.

With few tournament entries available, Zhang started again from the qualifying rounds at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Wimbledon and several other events. She also competed on the lower-level ITF circuit, capturing a title in Nottingham.

"It was really tough," she said. "My ranking was too low to get into many tournaments, so I had to look for chances, grab any opportunity. When my ranking climbed back to No. 110, I said to myself 'This is unbelievable'."

This season, Zhang and her team have been on the road since the United Cup in Perth at the end of 2024, returning to China only after the US Open last month. "We were away from home for almost nine months," she said. "So I feel that no matter how the last few tournaments of this season go, I'm already very satisfied with myself."

Rising at home, again

When the WTA Tour returned to China this fall, Zhang began finding her rhythm again. She reached the round of 32 at the China Open in Beijing, then followed up with another strong run in Wuhan, defeating 14th seed Emma Navarro and Romania's Sorana Cirstea before falling to Gauff in the round of 16.

"After so many years, to play three matches in a row in this heat and still feel strong - that means a lot," said Zhang, whose live ranking has climbed to No. 119 after the Wuhan Open.

There was a time when Zhang felt trapped by the sport. "I used to think tennis was torturing me," she said. "I was always chasing results, being afraid of losing, afraid of what people would say."

Now, her relationship with tennis feels transformed. "I don't have negative emotions anymore. I go on court with peace. I don't feel tired or in pain. I just feel grateful."

She compared her long career to walking through a maze. "I've tried every path, both the right ones and the wrong ones. Now I've walked through it, and I'm not afraid anymore."

After Wuhan, Zhang canceled her doubles commitments to focus fully on singles for the rest of the season. She plans to play qualifying in Osaka, then head to Guangzhou and Hong Kong, China.

"My short-term goal is to get back into the top 100," she said. "I believe I can do it. It's just a matter of time."

Her father's encouragement, she added, keeps her grounded. "He always tells me, 'You're a hero just by standing on court.' So every day, I tell myself, 'I'm proud of what I've done - but I can still be better.'"

After the storm

Few players above 35 remain active in singles on the WTA Tour, making Zhang an outlier - and an inspiration for younger Chinese players.

She often describes her career using one image: the rainbow. "We always say, 'After the storm comes the rainbow,'" she said. "I've been through so many storms, or even hurricanes, so now when the rainbow appears, it feels more beautiful and more precious."

She calls it her "double rainbow" - one for singles, where her ranking is climbing again, and one for doubles, where she remains among the world's best.

It's a fitting symbol for a player who has endured as much as she has.

"I've learned to appreciate every match," Zhang said. "This part of my career is my reward. I can play freely, enjoy it, and still believe the best version of me hasn't arrived yet."