https://www.scmp.com/rss/519332/feed The latest news on Zheng Qinwen, Chinese professional tennis player and Olympian, including competition news and updates. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse,dpa Agence France-Presse,dpa Jannik Sinner set a record for consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1000 events as the Italian and Aryna Sabalenka kept their “Sunshine Double” dreams alive with emphatic victories at the ATP/WTA Miami Open on Monday. Sinner and Sabalenka are bidding to join an elite band of players who have won Indian Wells and the Miami Open back to back, and arrived in Florida brimming with confidence after their respective victories in the California desert earlier this month. World No 2 Sinner beat French... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3347687/miami-open-sunshine-double-dreams-alive-sinner-breaks-record-sabalenka-beats-zheng?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3347687/miami-open-sunshine-double-dreams-alive-sinner-breaks-record-sabalenka-beats-zheng?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:05:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Sebastian Korda stared down Carlos Alcaraz on Monday, sending the world No 1 crashing out of the Miami Open third round 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, while China’s Zheng Qinwen beat former Australian Open champion Madison Keys before explaining her “double-coach” situation. Korda, ranked 36th in the world, notched his first victory over a world No 1, sending Alcaraz to his second straight early exit in Miami following defeat by 55th-ranked Belgian David Goffin in round two last year. Since that loss, Alcaraz... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3347568/miami-open-korda-sends-world-no-1-alcaraz-another-early-exit-sabalenka-face-zheng?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3347568/miami-open-korda-sends-world-no-1-alcaraz-another-early-exit-sabalenka-face-zheng?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:30:18 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China tennis star Zheng Qinwen has named former world No 8 Marcos Baghdatis as her new coach and dismissed talk of a split with former trainer Pere Riba, saying the Spaniard was just taking a break. Zheng had sparked rumours of a split with Riba after unfollowing her long-time coach on social media and posting the Nietzsche quote, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how”, on a revamped profile. But speaking on Wednesday ahead of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, she said the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3345533/zheng-qinwen-adds-marcos-baghdatis-coaching-line-dismisses-talk-riba-split?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3345533/zheng-qinwen-adds-marcos-baghdatis-coaching-line-dismisses-talk-riba-split?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen has unfollowed her coach Pere Riba on social media, reigniting speculation that one of tennis’s most closely watched partnerships could be about to change again. Chinese fans quickly spotted that Riba no longer appeared among the accounts Zheng follows on Instagram, and the 23-year-old also added a quote from philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche – “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how” – to her profile. Fresh doubts over the long-term future of the coaching... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3344492/tennis-star-zheng-qinwen-sparks-split-speculation-after-unfollowing-coach-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3344492/tennis-star-zheng-qinwen-sparks-split-speculation-after-unfollowing-coach-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:00:18 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Olympic tennis champion Zheng Qinwen has withdrawn from this month’s Australian Open, saying on Thursday she is not yet fit enough to compete with the world’s best. A former finalist at the year’s opening grand slam, losing to current world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2 in 2024, Zheng said pulling out of the tournament in Melbourne had been “incredibly difficult”. But the 23-year-old has played only briefly since undergoing elbow surgery after a first round defeat at Wimbledon last July, and she... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339185/chinas-zheng-qinwen-out-australian-open-says-shes-not-fit-enough-compete?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3339185/chinas-zheng-qinwen-out-australian-open-says-shes-not-fit-enough-compete?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 09:27:11 +0000 Syrena Jin Syrena Jin From auspicious horse-themed phrases and couplets to whether your luck is in, check out our Year of the Horse 2026 series to discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year. In Chinese culture, the horse represents intelligence, courage and untamed freedom. It is also a powerful symbol of capability and success, often embodied in the mythical beast qian li ma – a winged steed not unlike Pegasus in Greek mythology – which is said to be able to travel long distances in a very short... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3338088/7-successful-people-born-year-horse-jackie-chan-ang-lee-and-lu-han?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3338088/7-successful-people-born-year-horse-jackie-chan-ang-lee-and-lu-han?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China’s Zheng Qinwen will resume her comeback at an exhibition event with a difference on the eve of next month’s Australian Open: a tournament consisting of one-point matches. Zheng, who had surgery on a troublesome right elbow in July and has barely played since, will join the likes of Naomi Osaka, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in the AO 1 Point Slam at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. Ten amateur players will try their luck against 22 professionals in knockout rounds, with “rock, paper,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3337646/zheng-qinwen-join-osaka-alcaraz-1-point-slam-australian-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3337646/zheng-qinwen-join-osaka-alcaraz-1-point-slam-australian-open?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 10:41:11 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara A “pumped and motivated” Coleman Wong Chak-lam has been told he “does not have to be scared” of any of his rivals for National Games honours. Hong Kong favourite Wong will begin his medal quest against Shanxi’s unheralded 20-year-old Duan Hao on Friday. Wednesday’s draw in Zhuhai was dealt a blow before it even started with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen withdrawing from the women’s singles because she had failed to fully recover from the elbow injury that has blighted the second half of her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3332539/coleman-wong-has-nothing-fear-can-take-down-any-his-national-games-rivals-coach-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3332539/coleman-wong-has-nothing-fear-can-take-down-any-his-national-games-rivals-coach-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:00:21 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Local tennis officials are banking on a gold medal at the National Games in November to strengthen the sport’s claim to keep its elite status at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. The tennis events will be contested at the Hengqin International Tennis Centre in Zhuhai, with medals up for grabs in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Previously, a sport needed to have been represented in three of the past four or the next two Olympics or Asian Games to qualify for elite funding from the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3329577/national-games-hong-kong-tennis-chiefs-hope-golden-november-will-boost-sports-elite-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3329577/national-games-hong-kong-tennis-chiefs-hope-golden-november-will-boost-sports-elite-status?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 01:00:33 +0000 dpa,Agence France-Presse dpa,Agence France-Presse Emma Raducanu believes she is moving in the right direction, but acknowledged it was hard to quickly get over two painful defeats to Jessica Pegula and Barbora Krejcikova last month. Raducanu squandered three match points in a last-16 tie with former Wimbledon champion Krejcikova at the Korea Open on September 18 before, a fortnight later, history repeated itself with the British No 1 unable to close out victory against Pegula. The 2021 US Open champion had a 5-2 advantage over world No 7 Pegula... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3327928/wuhan-open-emma-raducanu-confident-she-moving-right-direction-after-painful-defeats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3327928/wuhan-open-emma-raducanu-confident-she-moving-right-direction-after-painful-defeats?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 13:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is set to defend her title at next week’s Wuhan Open following a brief injury lay-off but local hero Zheng Qinwen is out. Sabalenka won her fourth grand slam crown in New York last month but missed this week’s China Open in Beijing with what she called a small injury. The 27-year-old from Belarus is expected to return to action for the WTA 1000 event in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where she is the reigning champion and a three-time winner. The main draw starts on Monday... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3327871/local-star-zheng-qinwen-out-wuhan-open-after-lay-aryna-sabalenka-defend-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3327871/local-star-zheng-qinwen-out-wuhan-open-after-lay-aryna-sabalenka-defend-title?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 07:46:32 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Zheng Qinwen’s China Open came to an abrupt end on Monday, with the home favourite retiring in the deciding set of her third-round clash against Linda Noskova. The Chinese world No 9 had recovered from going a set down to draw things level, but was well behind in the third set when she called time on her first tournament since recovering from elbow surgery. Noskova was 6-4, 3-6, 3-0 up at that point and will now face Russia’s Anastasia Potapova for a place in the quarter-finals. Zheng said her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3327280/zheng-qinwen-retires-china-open-quits-when-trailing-novoska-deciding-set?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3327280/zheng-qinwen-retires-china-open-quits-when-trailing-novoska-deciding-set?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:23:16 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Zheng Qinwen made a winning return to tennis on Saturday, easing past Colombia’s Emiliana Arango in the second round of the China Open in her first match since undergoing surgery on her right elbow. Back on court for the first time since she was beaten in the first round at Wimbledon by Czech player Katerina Siniakova, Zheng wasted little time in putting together a 6-3, 6-2 victory. The world No 9 opened her account with an ace against lucky loser Arango and then dominated the second set,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3327113/zheng-qinwen-makes-winning-return-eases-past-arango-china-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3327113/zheng-qinwen-makes-winning-return-eases-past-arango-china-open?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:06:10 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Zheng Qinwen is on the brink of making her return to competitive tennis after confirmation arrived from organisers that she would be playing in this week’s China Open in Beijing. China’s No 1 has been out of action since July, when she had surgery to fix an elbow injury that had plagued her season. Her last match was a defeat by Czech player Katerina Siniakova in the first round at Wimbledon that month. “Zheng Qinwen returns from injury, taking the court for the first time since Wimbledon in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3326345/zheng-qinwen-poised-comeback-week-china-open-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3326345/zheng-qinwen-poised-comeback-week-china-open-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 04:13:47 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Zheng Qinwen has withdrawn from the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen next week, despite reports suggesting the world No 9 had fully recovered from elbow surgery and would play. Zheng was originally named in China’s team to face Italy, just days after revealing she had undergone treatment. And on Monday, Italian website Spazio Tennis said Zheng had completed her rehabilitation at Rennbahnklinik, a sports medicine and physiotherapy centre in Muttenz, Switzerland. But organisers confirmed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324835/zheng-qinwen-ready-billie-jean-king-cup-return-after-recovering-elbow-injury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324835/zheng-qinwen-ready-billie-jean-king-cup-return-after-recovering-elbow-injury?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:41:54 +0000 Reuters Reuters China has unveiled a detailed plan to build and implement a tennis ecosystem, from boosting the number of top professional players and creating Chinese tournament brands to expanding the availability of courts and infrastructure across the country. In a document released on Wednesday, China’s official sporting body said it would encourage cities, businesses, schools and villages to “vigorously develop tennis” and build a new training system to develop top talent. The document said China would... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3322616/china-aims-pounce-zheng-qinwen-popularity-tennis-master-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3322616/china-aims-pounce-zheng-qinwen-popularity-tennis-master-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:07:17 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China’s No 1 tennis player Zheng Qinwen has shared a first glimpse of her road to recovery following the elbow surgery that ruled her out of this month’s US Open. The Olympic champion on Friday shared a video on social media that she said was “a late update” of her first week of recovery. Zheng had been battling an injury to her right elbow throughout the season and, after crashing out of Wimbledon in the first round for a third straight year, decided to take a break from the tour and undergo... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3321307/zheng-qinwen-gives-first-update-her-recovery-after-elbow-operation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3321307/zheng-qinwen-gives-first-update-her-recovery-after-elbow-operation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Aug 2025 08:03:06 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Zheng Qinwen may have had elbow surgery only days ago, but she has been named in China’s team for September’s Billie Jean King Cup finals in Shenzhen, raising the possibility of an early comeback. Olympic champion Zheng said on Saturday that she would be out for weeks if not months following arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow, and on Monday her withdrawal from the US Open at the end of August was confirmed. But on Tuesday, organisers of the Billie Jean King Cup – formerly known as the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319113/could-injured-zheng-qinwen-make-comeback-shenzhen-soon-september?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3319113/could-injured-zheng-qinwen-make-comeback-shenzhen-soon-september?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:07:02 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Zheng Qinwen has vowed to return as a “better version of myself” after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow, but faces months of rehab that could end her season. The world No 6 revealed the news on social media on Saturday, sharing a picture of herself in a hospital bed, and wrote she had been experiencing “persistent pain” for several months. The 22-year-old, who lost in the first round at Wimbledon to Katerina Siniakova for the second time in three years, had been wearing a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3318879/chinas-zheng-qinwen-facing-weeks-and-months-recovery-after-elbow-surgery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3318879/chinas-zheng-qinwen-facing-weeks-and-months-recovery-after-elbow-surgery?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jul 2025 16:33:45 +0000 Agencies Agencies Top seed Aryna Sabalenka was given a tougher workout than she would have bargained for, but the top seed methodically dismantled Czech Marie Bouzkova 7-6, 6-4 to reach the third round of Wimbledon on Wednesday. As the sun played hide-and-seek with the grey clouds that hovered over Centre Court, Sabalenka kept knocking on the door in the opening set but was shut out by Bouzkova each time and dropped serve with a double fault in the 11th game. A frustrated Sabalenka let out a scream when she... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3316706/no-1-seed-aryna-sabalenka-sees-marie-bouzkova-reach-third-round-wimbledon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3316706/no-1-seed-aryna-sabalenka-sees-marie-bouzkova-reach-third-round-wimbledon?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:51:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Chinese tennis fans have made clear their disappointment after Zheng Qinwen crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round for the third straight year. The tournament’s fifth seed was beaten 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 by world No 81 Katerina Siniakova late on Tuesday – the second time in three years the Czech had knocked Zheng out in the opening round of the grass grand slam. Afterwards, many on Chinese social media rounded on the 22-year-old, questioning whether she truly belonged among the world’s best. “I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316659/chinese-fans-bash-sore-loser-zheng-after-wimbledon-exit-question-her-attitude?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316659/chinese-fans-bash-sore-loser-zheng-after-wimbledon-exit-question-her-attitude?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:36:07 +0000 SCMP Sport,Agencies SCMP Sport,Agencies Zheng Qinwen said she would not be overacting to slumping out of Wimbledon in the first round for the third year running, calling her defeat at the hands of Katerina Siniakova “just another match I lost on grass”. The fifth seed was beaten 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 by the world No 81, the second time in three years Siniakova has knocked her out in the opening round. While Siniakova is ranked far lower in singles, the Czech Republic player is the world’s best women’s doubles player, and has won 10 grand... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3316556/zheng-qinwen-knocked-out-wimbledon-first-round-third-year-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3316556/zheng-qinwen-knocked-out-wimbledon-first-round-third-year-row?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:00:32 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Zheng Qinwen said she would be “fully prepared” for her opening match at Wimbledon on Monday against Katerina Siniakova, who knocked her out in the first round two years ago. The Olympic champion’s best performance at Wimbledon came on her debut in 2022, when she reached the third round. But, she has fallen at the first hurdle since then, losing to the 29-year-old from the Czech Republic in 2023 and Lulu Sun last year. The world No 5 and Siniakova, who has 10 women’s doubles grand slam titles to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316274/wimbledon-zheng-qinwen-out-end-first-round-woes-fully-prepared-siniakova-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316274/wimbledon-zheng-qinwen-out-end-first-round-woes-fully-prepared-siniakova-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2025 23:00:20 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Zheng Qinwen has enlisted the help of a coach who guided Rafael Nadal to 22 grand slam titles, ahead of another shot at a Wimbledon title and a draw that has placed her on a collision course with Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka. The world No 5 has struggled in South London in recent years, failing to make it out of the first round since 2022. On Thursday, the 22-year-old was captured training with Spaniard Francisco Roig, who coached Nadal from 2005 to 2023 and was involved in all of his major... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316152/wimbledon-draw-zheng-qinwen-turns-nadal-coach-osaka-sabalenka-waiting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316152/wimbledon-draw-zheng-qinwen-turns-nadal-coach-osaka-sabalenka-waiting?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:42:29 +0000 dpa dpa Wimbledon begins on Monday with Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova bidding to defend the titles they won last year. Here are 10 players to watch over the next fortnight. Coco Gauff The charismatic American heads to Wimbledon as the new French Open champion, but her grass ceiling remains the fourth round. Yet if her forehand and serve hold up, Gauff has all the weapons and athleticism to master her least favourite surface. The 21-year-old will be seeded second, so there should be little danger... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3315829/coco-gauff-emma-raducanu-zheng-qinwen-carlos-alcaraz-possible-headline-acts-wimbledon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3315829/coco-gauff-emma-raducanu-zheng-qinwen-carlos-alcaraz-possible-headline-acts-wimbledon?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer World No 5 Zheng Qinwen could find herself climbing to the top of a different rankings list after the Olympic tennis champion signed up her 15th commercial sponsor – making her potentially the highest-paid female athlete in the world. Zheng on Tuesday revealed her partnership with Chinese social media giant RedNote, a move that will only increase her off-court earnings, which surpassed US$15 million in 2024. State media outlets reported that with the country’s Instagram-style platform on board,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315816/zheng-qinwens-court-earnings-set-top-us30-million-after-signing-15th-sponsor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3315816/zheng-qinwens-court-earnings-set-top-us30-million-after-signing-15th-sponsor?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:49:32 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Imagine Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu competing together for a grand slam trophy. How about Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe as a duo? Iga Swiatek alongside Casper Ruud? Or Naomi Osaka with Nick Kyrgios? Those are among the high-wattage pairs on Tuesday’s preliminary entry list for the reimagined US Open mixed doubles tournament on August 19-20, before singles competition begins on August 24. Ten of the top 11 women in the WTA singles rankings – Coco Gauff, who just won the French Open for her... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3314825/us-open-alcaraz-raducanu-keys-tiafoe-zheng-draper-among-star-mixed-doubles-pairings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3314825/us-open-alcaraz-raducanu-keys-tiafoe-zheng-draper-among-star-mixed-doubles-pairings?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2025 14:00:08 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell China’s Zheng Qinwen has spoken about her struggle to find a usable pair of shoes for grass-court tennis after again changing footwear at the Queen’s Club Championships in London. Olympic champion Zheng changed her shoes during the sixth game of the deciding set of her semi-final defeat by Amanda Anisimova of the United States on Saturday. She had already drawn an unimpressed response from the home crowd when she changed shoes mid-game in Friday’s quarter-final win over Emma Raducanu, opting to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3314504/zheng-qinwen-explains-change-shoes-after-another-mid-game-stoppage-london?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3314504/zheng-qinwen-explains-change-shoes-after-another-mid-game-stoppage-london?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Jun 2025 07:32:03 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Chinese No 1 Zheng Qinwen said she was focusing on Wimbledon as she worked to move on from her painful defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open. The 22-year-old lost 7-6, 6-3 in the quarter-finals to the world No 1 but, despite her poor record against the Belarusian – who lost in the final to American Coco Gauff – she was disappointed with her own performance. The defeat came less than a year after she won Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games on the same courts, and Zheng said she felt the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3313623/top-seed-zheng-qinwen-thrilled-play-queens-club-she-moves-french-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3313623/top-seed-zheng-qinwen-thrilled-play-queens-club-she-moves-french-open?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:00:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer An emotional Zheng Qinwen said she had lost her French Open quarter-final against Aryna Sabalenka, rather than the world No 1 doing anything special to win it in straight sets. Playing in her first tournament at Roland Garros since becoming Olympic champion last summer, Zheng went down 7-6, 6-3 in an error-strewn performance on Court Philippe Chatrier. In her final post-match press conference of the event, a teary-eyed Zheng, who committed a total of 31 unforced errors, rued opening the door for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3312980/french-open-chinese-no-1-zhengs-tears-she-blames-herself-quarter-final-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3312980/french-open-chinese-no-1-zhengs-tears-she-blames-herself-quarter-final-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Jun 2025 04:42:57 +0000 SCMP Sport,Agence France-Presse SCMP Sport,Agence France-Presse Zheng Qinwen’s French Open dream ended on Tuesday in an error-strewn loss to Aryna Sabalenka, a player she has beaten only once in eight attempts. After a surprise defeat in Rome last month, the World No 1 resumed normal service on the Paris clay, downing her opponent in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3. The top seed from Belarus needed less than two hours to end the Olympic champion’s winning streak at Roland Garros, sealing herself a spot in the semi-finals of the year’s second grand slam at the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312922/top-seed-aryna-sabalenka-beats-chinas-zheng-qinwen-reach-french-open-semi-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312922/top-seed-aryna-sabalenka-beats-chinas-zheng-qinwen-reach-french-open-semi-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:24:33 +0000 Reuters Reuters Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen continued her French Open campaign in battling fashion as the Chinese eighth seed overcame Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros on Sunday. Zheng swapped a pair of breaks with her 19th-seeded opponent in the opening set and fought back from 4-2 down in the tiebreak to get her nose in front before allowing big-hitting Samsonova to hold in a tense first game of the second set. The Russian broke to love in the next game... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312665/zheng-qinwen-battles-past-samsonova-reach-maiden-french-open-quarter-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312665/zheng-qinwen-battles-past-samsonova-reach-maiden-french-open-quarter-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 14:48:01 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen became the first woman to qualify for the French Open last 16 on Friday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. Top women’s seed Aryna Sabalenka also eased through, as Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti rallied from a set down to book his ticket to the men’s fourth round. Chinese eighth seed Zheng claimed her Olympic gold at Roland Garros last year and has won nine successive matches at the venue after seeing off Mboko. “We had some really good points, it... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312503/french-open-zheng-qinwen-first-woman-last-16-after-beating-mboko?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312503/french-open-zheng-qinwen-first-woman-last-16-after-beating-mboko?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 10:53:01 +0000 Reuters,Agence France-Presse Reuters,Agence France-Presse Emma Raducanu admitted feeling exposed after a humbling second-round loss to defending French Open champion Iga Swiatek during her maiden appearance on Court Philippe Chatrier but the Briton said the experience had not left her demotivated. Meanwhile, China’s Zheng Qinwen, the last woman to win a title at Roland Garros having claimed Olympic singles gold last summer, said she would not be wearing kid gloves when she faced her next opponent on Friday. Zheng, who powered past Emiliana Arango of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312255/french-open-raducanu-unbowed-after-swiatek-thrashing-zheng-qinwen-wary-next-match?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312255/french-open-raducanu-unbowed-after-swiatek-thrashing-zheng-qinwen-wary-next-match?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 05:41:11 +0000 Reuters Reuters China’s Zheng Qinwen powered past Colombia’s Emiliana Arango to reach the third round of the French Open on Wednesday as the Olympic champion again showed her liking for Parisian clay. The 22-year-old swept to the Olympic title at Roland Garros last August and her 6-2, 6-3 victory over Arango underlined why she is being tipped to win her first grand slam. On cool and drizzly Court Suzanne Lenglen, eighth-seeded Zheng had too much firepower for her tricky 85th-ranked opponent, breaking serve at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312157/chinese-olympic-champion-zheng-qinwen-powers-french-open-third-round?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3312157/chinese-olympic-champion-zheng-qinwen-powers-french-open-third-round?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 May 2025 11:10:35 +0000 Reuters Reuters Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen eased past 2021 finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-3 in the French Open first round on Sunday to stretch her winning run on the Parisian clay to seven matches. The Chinese player has fond memories of the Philippe Chatrier court having won the women’s singles gold medal on the same court at last year’s Paris Games. Playing under a closed roof because of rain in the French capital on the first day of the tournament, Zheng broke the Russian in the second game to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3311739/french-open-chinas-zheng-qinwen-world-no-1-sabalenka-ease-second-round?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3311739/french-open-chinas-zheng-qinwen-world-no-1-sabalenka-ease-second-round?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 May 2025 13:32:30 +0000 SCMP Sport,Agencies SCMP Sport,Agencies Zheng Qinwen has expressed her relief after she beat her nemesis Aryna Sabalenka at the seventh time of asking at the Italian Open, saying: “Finally, I broke through.” The Olympic gold medallist was a 6-4, 6-3 winner over the world No 1 in the quarter-finals in Rome on Wednesday, in what was her first-ever victory over the Belarusian. Before their meeting at Forco Italico, Zheng had only ever taken a single set off Sabalenka, whose most high-profile defeat of the Chinese star came in last year’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3310413/zheng-qinwen-hails-her-first-ever-win-over-aryna-sabalenka-finally-i-broke-through?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3310413/zheng-qinwen-hails-her-first-ever-win-over-aryna-sabalenka-finally-i-broke-through?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 May 2025 04:10:18 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China’s Zheng Qinwen will aim to make it seventh time lucky against Aryna Sabalenka when she faces the world No 1 in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open on Wednesday. Top seed Sabalenka, who emerged victorious in all six of the pair’s previous meetings, fought back from 5-3 down in the second set on Monday to force a tiebreak before beating Ukranian Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 7-6. World No 8 Zheng beat Canada’s Bianca Andreescu 7-5, 6-1 at the Grand Stand Arena in Rome on Monday to set up her latest... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3310139/china-no-1-zheng-qinwen-hopes-get-7th-time-lucky-against-aryna-sabalenka-italian-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3310139/china-no-1-zheng-qinwen-hopes-get-7th-time-lucky-against-aryna-sabalenka-italian-open?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 May 2025 07:38:50 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China’s Zheng Qinwen said she needed to rediscover “the feeling of the game” to progress in the Italian Open, which starts on Wednesday. The Olympic champion’s year has been blighted by an elbow injury, while she crashed out of last month’s Madrid Open in the second following a disappointing defeat against world No 34 Anastasia Potapova. Seeded eighth in Rome, which is a Masters 1000 event, the 22-year-old’s tournament starts in the second round on Friday. “The worst point [of my injury] started... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3309243/zheng-qinwen-eyes-improvement-2025-starting-italian-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3309243/zheng-qinwen-eyes-improvement-2025-starting-italian-open?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 May 2025 09:30:11 +0000 China’s world No 8 Zheng Qinwen has joined a call for more money from the grand slams to filter down to the lower ranks. “I think that’s going to benefit all the players, not only the top players, especially those that work hard during the year and need to get paid from the grand slams and have to survive,” she said. Zheng said tennis should follow the example of the NBA, where players earn in aggregate around 50 per cent of basketball-related income. “That’s really positive, because if you look... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3305251/chinas-zheng-qinwen-joins-call-tennis-grand-slam-prize-money-be-shared-more-fairly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3305251/chinas-zheng-qinwen-joins-call-tennis-grand-slam-prize-money-be-shared-more-fairly?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:19:54 +0000 China’s Zheng Qinwen was beaten in straight sets by Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s quarter-finals at the Miami Open, while Novak Djokovic was among the winners in the men’s draw. World No 1 Sabalenka battled back in the second set to blast her way into the last four with a 6-2, 7-5 success on Tuesday local time. The victory gave Sabalenka her first place in the Miami semis, with a clash against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini standing between her and a place in the final. It looked like it was going to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3303884/miami-open-chinas-zheng-qinwen-beaten-aryna-sabalenka?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3303884/miami-open-chinas-zheng-qinwen-beaten-aryna-sabalenka?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Mar 2025 02:25:26 +0000 Zheng Qinwen’s straight sets win over Ashlyn Krueger on Monday set up a Miami Open quarter-final match-up with the Olympic gold medallist’s bête noire: Aryna Sabalenka. The ninth seed powered past American Krueger 6-2, 7-6, but if her impressive run is to continue, she will need to overcome the world No 1 – something she has failed to do in all five previous meetings. Their next match is scheduled for Wednesday at 7am Hong Kong time, after Sabalenka earned her place in the last eight with a 6-4,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3303746/miami-open-chinas-zheng-qinwen-face-mountain-she-cannot-climb-quarter-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3303746/miami-open-chinas-zheng-qinwen-face-mountain-she-cannot-climb-quarter-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Mar 2025 05:08:49 +0000 Zheng Qinwen looked to be back in Olympic gold medal form on Wednesday, brushing aside Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-2 to march into the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. The Chinese star has yet to drop a set in California, and never looked in danger on court, wrapping up her win in one hour and 20 minutes in a match delayed by rain Up next is defending champion and world No 2 Iga Swiatek on Friday, in what will be the 22-year-old Zheng’s first appearance in the last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3302071/zheng-qinwen-back-olympic-gold-form-breezes-quarter-finals-indian-wells?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3302071/zheng-qinwen-back-olympic-gold-form-breezes-quarter-finals-indian-wells?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Mar 2025 07:42:56 +0000 Olympic champion and China’s No 1 tennis star Zheng Qinwen has backtracked on previous claims that she is not in the sport to make friends, saying there are some people “I really want to befriend”. In November, the world No 9 said that she preferred to keep her distance from other players on the tour, saying that she finds it hard to compete against friends. But following Zheng’s 6-4, 7-5 win over Lulu Sun in the round of 32 of the Indian Wells Open on Monday, she told Chinese media that she was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3301943/china-no-1-zheng-qinwen-says-she-does-want-make-friends-tennis-after-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3301943/china-no-1-zheng-qinwen-says-she-does-want-make-friends-tennis-after-all?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:30:08 +0000 Defending champion Iga Swiatek crushed Dayana Yastremska 6-0, 6-2 and 2023 champion Elena Rybakina powered past Britain’s Katie Boulter 6-0, 7-5 to reach the fourth round of Indian Wells on Sunday with displays of dominance. Swiatek, seeded second, is aiming to become the first woman to win the tournament three times and the Polish player looked eager to do so in as little time on court as possible, reeling off 10 games in a row and needing just 65 minutes to see off her Ukrainian... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3301802/iga-swiatek-serves-bagel-indian-wells-track-face-zheng-qinwen-quarter-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3301802/iga-swiatek-serves-bagel-indian-wells-track-face-zheng-qinwen-quarter-final?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:30:09 +0000 Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen crashed out of the round of 32 of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday, losing to American Peyton Stearns 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. World No 8 Zheng has now lost three matches in a row, starting with a shock second-round exit from the Australian Open last month, as she looks to find the form that saw her rise to a career-best fifth in the world in 2024. Zheng seemed to be on course for an easy victory, breaking serve in both the first and last game of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3299330/chinese-olympic-champion-zheng-qinwen-crashes-out-dubai-event-third-loss-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3299330/chinese-olympic-champion-zheng-qinwen-crashes-out-dubai-event-third-loss-row?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:30:31 +0000 China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen has found herself three places lower in the women’s world singles rankings after their latest update, reflecting the Australian Open, which wrapped up in Melbourne at the weekend. Zheng had been sitting at a career-high ranking of No 5, but the 22-year-old’s shock second-round loss to Germany’s Laura Siegemund dropped her three spots on Monday to No 8. New women’s champion Madison Keys returned to her career-best WTA ranking, while men’s champion Jannik... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3296424/zheng-qinwen-drops-down-rankings-australian-open-champion-madison-keys-re-enters-top-10?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3296424/zheng-qinwen-drops-down-rankings-australian-open-champion-madison-keys-re-enters-top-10?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jan 2025 07:22:56 +0000 Shenzhen will play host to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the next three years, the International Tennis Federation said on Thursday. The past two editions of the women’s team tournament have been held in Spain – in Seville in 2023, where Canada were the champions, and in Malaga last year, where Italy triumphed. It is the first time the BJK Cup Finals, previously known as the Fed Cup, are being held in China. The last time it was held in Asia was in Tokyo in 1989. China’s Olympic gold... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3296048/shenzhen-host-billie-jean-king-cup-switch-reflects-incredible-progress-zheng-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3296048/shenzhen-host-billie-jean-king-cup-switch-reflects-incredible-progress-zheng-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jan 2025 01:30:15 +0000 A “hot-headed” Novak Djokovic sent an Australian Open warning to join Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in the last 16 on Friday, but Naomi Osaka’s bid for a third Melbourne crown is over with injury. Also on day six, women’s defending champion Aryna Sabalenka “pushed to the limit” to set up an intriguing showdown with teenage talent Mirra Andreeva. Djokovic, who is chasing a record-extending 11th Melbourne title and historic 25th grand slam crown, is on a collision course with Alcaraz in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3295118/australian-open-day-6-zheng-qinwens-conqueror-siegemund-thrashed-third-round?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/tennis/article/3295118/australian-open-day-6-zheng-qinwens-conqueror-siegemund-thrashed-third-round?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jan 2025 02:31:51 +0000 Australian Open runner-up Zheng Qinwen will kick off her 2025 season at the grand slam next month, after deciding to skip the United Cup mixed team tournament starting this week. Beaten in the final of the year’s first major by Aryna Sabalenka in January, the 22-year-old otherwise enjoyed a successful campaign, claiming the Paris Olympics gold medal and WTA Tour titles in Tokyo and Palermo. Zheng, who was runner-up at the Wuhan Open and the WTA Finals, played 68 matches in the 2024 season, and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/cricket/article/3291876/chinas-zheng-qinwen-skip-united-cup-needs-extra-rest-ahead-australian-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/cricket/article/3291876/chinas-zheng-qinwen-skip-united-cup-needs-extra-rest-ahead-australian-open?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Dec 2024 05:20:55 +0000