China News Service, Beijing, January 27th. On the evening of January 27th, Beijing time, the 2024 Australian Open women's singles final came to an end in Melbourne. China's "Golden Flower" Zheng Qinwen lost to the previous champion and Belarusian star Sabalenka in straight sets and won the Australian Open women's singles runner-up.
The 25-year-old Sabalenka is ranked second in the world. She won her first Grand Slam women's singles championship at the Australian Open last year and has advanced to the semi-finals of six consecutive Grand Slams. She is a "cannon" player with powerful attack power. Zheng Qinwen played against him in the quarterfinals of last year's US Open and lost 1:6, 4:6.
Before the game, Zheng Qinwen commented on his opponent: "Sabarenka is one of the best players currently. She has a strong serve, excellent forehand and backhand, and is an all-round player."
As a challenger, Zheng Qinwen was a little nervous at the beginning and was broken first. Although he got a chance to break serve at 40:0 in the third game, his opponent scored 5 consecutive points to keep serve and lost the first set at 3:6.
In the second set, Zheng Qinwen made three double faults in his service game and was broken again at the beginning. In the 5th game, Zheng Qinwen made two double faults and was broken. Sabalenka's serve won the game. Although Zheng Qinwen tenaciously saved 4 match points, he eventually lost to Sabalenka 2:6 and won his first Grand Slam singles runner-up. Sabalenka, the defending Australian Open women's singles champion, won her second Grand Slam title without losing a set.
"In the finals, we need to adjust our mentality to be more relaxed, especially when facing top players. Usually when facing ordinary players, I can recover after losing 2 games, but it is very difficult to face such an opponent." After the game, Zheng Qinwen said Showing disappointment, "I still need to improve my hair extensions and continue to improve and improve on my shortcomings."
Although he missed the championship, Zheng Qinwen has repeatedly refreshed his best record in Grand Slams, and his world ranking will rise to a career-high No. 7 next week, bringing a long-lost surprise to the Chinese tennis world.
After the third round of the women's singles match, Zheng Qinwen met with Chinese tennis star Li Na at the Australian Open. Talking about Li Na's influence on himself, Zheng Qinwen said: "When she won the Grand Slam championship, I thought, it turns out that we Chinese and Asians can also do so well in tennis. Because Sister Na did not win Before, you would have felt that the stage was untouchable. After Sister Na broke this barrier, she discovered that we can also make the impossible possible."
From Li Na winning the Daphne Cup at Rod Laver Arena to Zheng Qinwen becoming the second Chinese to reach a Grand Slam final ten years later, the 21-year-old Zheng Qinwen, as a rising star, heralded the The possibilities of Chinese tennis are endless. (over)