Zheng Qinwen showed that her semifinal victory over World No. 1 Iga Swiatek was no fluke as she went up to the task against Donna Vekic in the gold medal match in Paris 2024 women's tennis on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Zheng Qinwen rallied China's hopes for a first-ever Olympic medal in singles as she foiled Donna Vekic to seize the gold in Paris 2024 women's tennis at the Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday, Aug. 3.
Zheng rode the crest of her confidence-boosting win against World No. 1 and four-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek in dispatching Vekic, a first-time Grand Slam semifinalist in Wimbledon last month, to claim her biggest hardware to date.
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The seventh-ranked Zheng is yet to lift a major trophy, with her closest chance coming in the Australian Open last January when she broke through a Grand Slam final for the first time.
Zheng Qinwen is all smiles after winning the gold medal in Paris 2024. | Photo (c) International Tennis Federation
At Roland Garros, the major held in the same Olympic site, Zheng's best was a fourth round exit to eventual champion Swiatek two years ago.
But putting those behind her, Zheng was able to deliver as she added another accolade in the sport for China, which previously drew gold medals from Li Ting and Sun Tiantian in women's doubles.
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She did not just give pride to her country but to the whole region as she became the first Asian-born player, male or female, to win a singles Olympic gold medal in history.
World No. 21 Vekic, though on the losing end, still etched her own historic feat as her silver medal was the first for Croatia in women's singles.
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Zheng came out firing, zooming to a 3-0 lead as she broke her foe in the second game. She held on to her advantage and never allowed Vekic any reprieve as she broke to take the opener.
It was another early break for the 21-year-old Zheng in the second set, but Vekic did not allow her opponent to get away easy this time as she quickly broke back and eventually drew level at 2-2.
But Zheng, holding a 4-3 advantage with the match back on serve, was on the prowl, waiting for her opportunity which she got in the ensuing game as she gained two break points at 40-15.
The 28-year-old Vekic held her ground, dragging her opponent side to side before launching a volley as she stood like a wall on the net. A forehand error by Zheng put the game to deuce.
Whatever hope Vekic had soon fizzled out, as she sent her smash long to gift another break opportunity to her Chinese foe. While the Croat was able to save it anew on another error by Zheng, her own mistakes did her in the end as the Chinese ace converted her fourth break point for a 5-3 advantage.
Zheng then faced little resistance in her last service game, employing a drop shot to break a 15-all count before racing to the finish line.
Paris 2024 champ Zheng Qinwen is flanked by silver medalist Donna Vekic and bronze finisher Iga Swiatek at the podium. | Photo (c) Roland Garros
Zheng produced 16 winners against 20 unforced errors. Vekic had lesser winners at 11 while stumbling to 31 unforced errors in the one-hour-and-forty-five-minute match.
Firing a winner to close it out, the three-time WTA Tour titlist then collapsed on the red dirt then later carried the Chinese flag over her back.
She and Vekic were then joined by Swiatek in the medal ceremony.