Zheng Qinwen’s historic triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics has etched her name in the annals of Chinese tennis. Sixteen years after Li Na’s near miss in Beijing, Zheng became the first Chinese player to win an Olympic singles gold medal, defeating Donna Vekic in a thrilling final.
Zheng’s victory is a testament to her remarkable breakout season. After reaching the Australian Open final earlier this year, she has consistently performed at the highest level, earning a career-high ranking of No. 7. Her impressive run in Paris included a stunning upset over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.
In the final, Zheng faced a determined Vekic, who had enjoyed a resurgence in her career. However, Zheng’s aggressive play and powerful groundstrokes proved too much for the Croatian. She raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set and never looked back, winning 6-2, 6-3.
Zheng’s victory is a significant milestone for Chinese tennis. It follows in the footsteps of Ting Li and Sun Tiantian, who won women’s doubles gold in Athens 20 years ago. Zheng’s triumph is a testament to the growing strength of Chinese tennis and its bright future.
