China's Zheng Qinwen rejoicing after winning against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semi-final tennis match on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on Thursday — Reuters PARIS, Aug 01 (AFP): Zheng Qinwen stunned women's world number one Iga Swiatek on Thursday to become the first Chinese player to reach an Olympic Games tennis singles final.
Seventh-ranked Zheng triumphed 6-2, 7-5 and will face either Croatia's Donna Vekic or Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in the gold medal match.
"I feel more than just happy -- happy isn't enough to describe how I feel," said Zheng, who had played back-to-back three-hour matches to make the semi-final.
"If you ask me to play another three hours for my country, I would.
"It was an amazing match. To beat Iga is not easy as it's an important event for her."
Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion at Roland Garros, went into Thursday's match at a sweltering Court Philippe Chatrier on a 25-match win streak in Paris.
The 23-year-old had also defeated Zheng in all of their six previous meetings.
However, she was hit off the court by the powerful 21-year-old Australian Open finalist who broke the Pole three times in the opening set. Swiatek appeared restored by a 10-minute break and quickly stretched out to 4-0 lead in the second set before Zheng battled back, retrieving both breaks for 4-4.
The Chinese star broke again for a 6-5 lead against the error-plagued Swiatek and claimed victory in the next game.
By making the final, Zheng is the first Chinese man or woman to reach an Olympic singles gold medal match, bettering the run of Li Na who finished fourth in the women's event at Beijing in 2008.
Swiatek was left to rue her 36 unforced errors in a tie where she also dropped serve six times.
She will have to content herself now by playing int the bronze medal play-off.
Zheng is now on a 10-match clay-court winning streak. Just over a week ago, the Chinese star defended her Palemro title last week.
Zheng said she always believed she could defeat Swiatek despite her poor record against the Pole and having had to play gruelling back-to-back three-hour matches in Paris to make the semi-finals.
"I finally showed I could beat the world number one on her best surface," added Zheng.
"I always knew I can do it, but you have to show it. I'm so proud of myself and so proud for my country."
Zheng will face either Croatia's Donna Vekic or Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia in the gold medal match.
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