PARIS, France — In a watershed moment for Chinese tennis, Zheng Qinwen clinched her country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s singles tennis by defeating Croatia’s Donna Vekic in a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory at Court Philippe Chatrier, Roland Garros.
The 21-year-old Zheng’s triumph marks only China’s second gold in tennis, following Li Ting and Sun Tiantian’s women’s doubles victory at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Her win on the same court where compatriot Li Na made history as China’s first Grand Slam champion in 2011 adds to the significance of this achievement.
Reflecting on her emotional journey to the gold, Zheng expressed, “Nothing can describe my emotion, every round was super difficult and I did everything I could to get a medal for my country. I feel my country will be proud of me, I’m proud of myself.”
Zheng’s victory was characterized by her relentless determination, showcased by crucial winners and unwavering accuracy throughout the match. She capitalized on an early break to establish dominance in the first set and carried her momentum through the match, despite Vekic’s resilient play.
Having navigated through tough encounters earlier in the tournament, including saving a match point against Emma Navarro and halting Iga Swiatek’s 25-match winning streak at Roland Garros, Zheng’s resilience and match-hardened spirit were evident in her performance.
Zheng’s win underscores her status as a top contender in women’s tennis, currently ranked seventh in the world and a runner-up at the Australian Open. Her ability to rise to the occasion on the Olympic stage cements her reputation as a formidable force in the sport.
In other Olympic tennis news, Australia’s Matthew Ebden and John Peers secured the men’s doubles gold with a thrilling comeback victory over Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram of the United States, adding another chapter to the day’s historic tennis achievements.
The Tokyo Games bronze medalist, Peers, now adds a second Olympic medal to his collection, highlighting a day of triumph and records in the sport of tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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