Qinwen Zheng reveals how her mindset helped her beat Iga Swiatek at Paris Olympics for the first time after six meetings

Qinwen Zheng battled past Iga Swiatek in the semifinals before winning the Olympic gold by beating Donna Vekic in the final.

Qinwen Zheng reveals how her mindset helped her beat Iga Swiatek at Paris Olympics for the first time after six meetings

Iga Swiatek, Qinwen Zheng (Images via Imago)

Qinwen Zheng admitted that the match against Iga Swiatek in the semifinals at the Paris Olympics was special for her. She scripted history on August 3 when she became the first Chinese singles player (male or female) to win the Olympic gold. 

Zheng defeated Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the final to emerge as the champion. Prior to that, she was expected to lose in the semifinal to World No.1 Swiatek, who is a four-time French Open champion. 

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The five-time Grand Slam champion, however, was no match for the Chinese in the first set and toiled hard to save herself from losing by giving a tough fight in the second set. In the end, Zheng prevailed and won the match with a scoreline of 6-2, 7-5. 

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The Olympic gold medal holds a special place in the hearts of both Zheng and Swiatek, both of whom have dreamt of making their country proud. Zheng, at a press conference, revealed how her mindset helped her to beat the Pole, and eke out epic three-set victories over Emma Navarro and Angelique Kerber in the third round and quarterfinals respectively. 

But there's a strength holding me behind that I just feel I never give up during the Games. I don't why because I just let a match go away. But for this Olympics, I just hold and hold and keep fighting and finally, I made it. And especially to beat Switeak, that means a lot to me, because I lost against her six times.
Qinwen Zheng said at a press conference
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Qinwen Zheng thanks her parents for believing in her 

After making history at the Roland Garros, Qinwen Zheng paid an emotional tribute to her parents. She revealed how her father pushed her a lot and always believed that one day she could win a big tournament.

Qinwen Zheng 2
Qinwen Zheng (Image via imago)
He pushed me hard. Even on Chinese New Year, there was no rest. He'd take me to the track, he'd make me run up and down stairs to make my body work. I got two or three days' rest when I was 14 or 15.
Qinwen Zheng said after the final

It was the 21-year-old’s second final at a big event, having played her first at the Australian Open earlier this year. But in the summit clash, she succumbed easily to Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.

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