In a thrilling clash at Roland Garros, Chinese eighth-seeded Zheng Qinwen stunned Russian veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with a 6-4, 6-3 win in the French Open first round. 🎾
Pavlyuchenkova, who reached the French Open final in 2021, had previously bested Zheng at the Cincinnati Open in 2024 with a 7-5, 6-1 victory. This rematch delivered plenty of drama as Zheng jumped to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. Though Pavlyuchenkova rallied to tie the set at 4-4, Zheng responded with two love games to seal a crucial break.
The second set saw Zheng break early and build a steady lead. Even as Pavlyuchenkova attempted a comeback, Zheng's persistence prevailed to secure her win and mark her fourth consecutive appearance in the French Open second round.
Looking ahead, Zheng will face Emiliana Arango of Colombia in the next round, promising even more high-energy tennis. Meanwhile, compatriot Yuan Yue was knocked out by No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy, and Wang Xinyu is set to challenge former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu later on.
This match is yet another reminder of Zheng's rising star power and tactical brilliance—an inspiring story for young sports fans worldwide! 🔥
Reference(s):
Zheng Qinwen beats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in French Open first round
cgtn.com
