‘Tired’ Qinwen Zheng ready to play ‘three more hours for country’ after getting past World No.1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets
Zheng became the first player from China to secure herself a place for an Olympic gold medal match.
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Qinwen Zheng, Iga Swiatek (Images via Imago)
Qinwen Zheng scripted history at the 2024 Paris Olympics. On Thursday (August 1), she did the ‘unthinkable’ by getting past World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets inside Court Philippe-Chatrier to advance to her first Olympic final.
In doing so, Zheng also became the first player from China to secure a place in an Olympic gold medal match in tennis. On Wednesday (July 31), she played a three-set thriller to end Germany’s Angelique Kerber‘s career (she announced her retirement) before creating the biggest upset in women’s singles by beating Swiatek. And if Zheng had to play another tough match, she claimed she would do everything to win it all for her country.
I'm tired but tell me to play now another three hours for my country, I would do it.Qinwen Zheng said after the match
Swiatek, a dominant force at Roland Garros, was no match for the Chinese as she was restricted to just two games in the first set. But the Pole forced a comeback in the second set. Zheng, who was 0-4 down, fought hard to level the scores after which the Pole could win just one game. Swiatek, who committed a total of 36 errors, tried everything she had at her disposal but failed to overcome Zheng.
Zheng will play her second final at a big event this season. In January this year, she played her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open but was no match for Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka, who defended her title by beating the Chinese 6-3, 6-2. Sabalenka is not taking part in the Summer Olympics.
Iga Swiatek’s 25-match Roland Garros streak ended after defeat to Qinwen Zheng
Iga Swiatek lifted her second French Open title in 2022 and defended it last year. This year’s Roland Garros was no different, as Swiatek cruised past Jasmine Paolini in straight sets to take home the title.
Then at the Paris Olympics, the 23-year-old was going strong and extending her Roland Garros 25-match win streak before getting stopped in the tracks by Qinwen Zheng. Swiatek also broke her 6-0 head-to-head record against Zheng.
But the five-time Grand Slam champion has a chance to take home the bronze medal. The loser of the second semifinal, between 2024 Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekic and Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, will meet Swiatek in the bronze medal match.
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Gouri Das
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