On 12 September 2011, she reached her highest singles ranking by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) of 184.

She defeated Olga Savchuk, and become the first Hong Kongese player to achieve this, after Patricia Hy-Boulais done it in the 1980s.

Playing for Hong Kong at the Fed Cup, Ling has a win–loss record of 37–26.

She is the Hong Kong player with most ties (44) and years (11) played, together with most singles, doubles and total wins, leading Hong Kong to play in Asia Group I for four times (2007, 2008, 2015, 2018).

Zhang announced her retirement from professional tennis in September 2020, after 16 years on the tour.