Zheng Qinwen French Open Quarterfinals: A New Milestone

🎾 With an electrifying 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-3 triumph over Liudmila Samsonova, Zheng Qinwen shines as she advances to the French Open quarterfinals 2023 for the first time. This hard-fought victory marks a significant milestone in her career and reflects her resilience on the WTA clay court stage.

Most importantly, the grueling match lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes. Zheng, the No. 7 seed, continues her remarkable streak at Roland Garros, extending her winning run to 10 matches. Her journey began with a gold-medal performance at the Olympic Games last summer. Impressively, she becomes just the second Chinese player in the Open Era to reach the French Open women’s quarterfinals, following the legendary 2011 champion Li Na.

A Three-Set Battle of Power

In this intense battle, Zheng’s powerful serve was crucial, especially in the third set where she delivered five of her 10 aces. Notably, she committed only one double fault in the final frame, showcasing her precision under pressure.

Besides that, only Iga Swiatek (11) and Aryna Sabalenka (10) have reached more WTA-level clay court quarterfinals in the last three years than Zheng, who now boasts eight. This match was pivotal for both players. Samsonova, aiming for her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal, faced Zheng, who sought her inaugural appearance in the final eight at Roland Garros.

Moreover, Samsonova entered the match with a 3-2 head-to-head advantage, riding the momentum from reaching a final in Strasbourg the previous week. Known for her power, Samsonova has a history of defeating Top 10 players, including a notable win over No. 10 Paula Badosa in Strasbourg.

Unfolding Drama: Zheng vs Samsonova Highlights

Interestingly, both players pushed the first set into a tiebreak, marked by four consecutive breaks of serve and inconsistent play. Samsonova had a chance to serve for the set but missed a dropshot, allowing Zheng back into the game. In the tiebreak, Zheng initially fell behind 2-3 due to her fifth double fault. However, Samsonova’s forehand errors leveled the score. At 5-5, Zheng delivered a precise forehand to the deep corner, leading to another forehand error from Samsonova, giving Zheng the set after a grueling 75 minutes.

Samsonova responded by winning the first three games of the second set, comfortably moving into the third set. She saved all seven break points against her while converting both chances against Zheng.

The Decisive Set: Final Moments

The final set was evenly matched until the sixth game. Zheng earned a break point with a strong return, having previously converted only two of 10 opportunities. A powerful running forehand forced Samsonova into a backhand error, giving Zheng the break.

However, serving at 4-2, Zheng faced a setback when a controversial ace was overturned by the chair umpire, resulting in a double fault. Despite this, the match returned to serve.

Finally, Samsonova faltered under pressure and was broken in five points, allowing Zheng to serve for victory. On match point, Samsonova’s forehand missed wide, marking her 42nd unforced error of the match. Zheng Qinwen’s journey at the French Open continues to captivate fans, and her WTA performance promises more thrilling moments ahead.

For more insights into Chinese tennis players history and their achievements, visit Olympic.org.