Tennis fans, get ready for a serve of excitement! Eighth-seeded Zheng Qinwen, hailing from the Chinese mainland, dazzled at Roland-Garros as she advanced to the French Open round-of-16—matching her career best performance. Facing Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko, Zheng won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, and kept her cool under pressure without dropping a single set in her first three matches.
Early in the first set, Zheng broke Mboko's rhythm with a powerful break in the fourth game. Although Mboko tried to mount a comeback, Zheng answered with another break in the sixth game and sealed the set with a dazzling ace in the ninth. The second set was just as intense, with both players trading serves and dramatic game points. Ultimately, Zheng's persistence saw her saving two crucial game points in the 10th before closing out the match.
Post-match, Zheng shared a cool insight: "I was born in China in a really hot place, which is called Wuhan, so I handled the hot weather quite well. Last year, when I played the Olympic Games, it was hotter than this. So actually I like this condition, but I want to say thanks to all the crowd, who suffered here under the sun today with me." Her gratitude and competitive spirit shone as brightly as her performance on the clay courts.
Looking ahead, Zheng will take on 19th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova of Russia in her next round. Meanwhile, the action at Roland-Garros continues with headline battles: three-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka and fifth-seeded Iga Swiatek have also secured impressive wins, setting the stage for more riveting match-ups.
With thrilling rallies, precise shots, and high stakes every match, the French Open is serving up plenty for tennis lovers around the globe. Stay tuned for more updates from Roland-Garros as the tournament heats up! 🎾🌞
Reference(s):
Zheng Qinwen advances to French Open round of 16, matching career best
cgtn.com
