🎉 China's rising tennis star, Zheng Qinwen, is serving up some serious history! She's just clinched her spot in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, happening from November 2 to 9. This makes her only the second Chinese player ever to qualify for the prestigious year-end tournament, following in the legendary footsteps of Li Na in 2013. Talk about smashing records! 🏆
Currently sitting pretty at seventh on the WTA leaderboard, Zheng outplayed competitors like Emma Navarro and Danielle Collins from the U.S., plus Russia's Daria Kasatkina. With their recent performances falling short and Navarro withdrawing from both the Ningbo Open and the Japan Open, Zheng sealed the deal for her spot in the Finals. 🎾
After her golden victory at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris this August (yes, you read that right! 🥇), Zheng's been on a whirlwind of matches. But even superheroes need a break! She recently withdrew from the Ningbo Open to recover from fatigue and a left leg adductor strain she picked up during the Wuhan Open semifinals and final. Plus, battling a cold didn't help either! 🤒
\"I feel sorry about skipping the Ningbo Open. It's a pity,\" Zheng shared at a press conference on Wednesday. \"Competing at the China Open and the Wuhan Open was very consuming. I took some painkillers and cold medicine before the Wuhan Open final because I caught a cold at that time. I haven't fully recovered yet.\"
Putting her health first, Zheng made the tough call to rest up. \"I talked to my team and made the decision to skip the Ningbo Open for the sake of my health and to avoid escalation of leg injury,\" she explained. \"I hope I can play it next year if I have the chance. I want to focus on recovery and hope that fans can enjoy the Ningbo Open.\"
We can't wait to see her bring her A-game to Riyadh! 🌟 Stay tuned, tennis fans—this is just the beginning for Zheng Qinwen. 😉🔥
Reference(s):
Zheng Qinwen becomes 2nd Chinese qualifier for WTA Finals after Li Na
cgtn.com
