Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen showcased her talent with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch, securing her place in the third round of the French Open on Thursday.
The match schedule faced disruptions due to persistent rain in Paris, leading to multiple suspensions and delays, causing players to endure extended waiting periods.
The 21-year-old from Hubei province admitted that the lengthy wait affected her performance. “I felt that I was not in my best condition because I waited for too long, and it was a bit slow to get into the groove,” said the Australian Open finalist.
“Maybe the opponent was the same. I just played normally and played to my best, and it was good to quickly resolve the situation without getting too entangled with the opponent, which also allowed me to make sufficient preparations for the next round.”
Reflecting on her first night match on clay, Zheng noted, “It feels quite different. The ball is not as fast as during the day, and the whole clay court is more solid. It’s a different game between day and night.”
Zheng is set to face Elina Avanesyan in the round of 32 on Saturday.
Wang Xinyu Triumphs Over Viktoriya Tomova in a Nail-Biting Match
In another impressive performance, Wang Xinyu defeated Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova in a thrilling 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 match on Thursday. Despite a rain-induced interruption, Wang persevered, marking her second consecutive year reaching the last 32 at the French Open and her third Grand Slam third-round appearance. Wang’s next challenge will be against Russia’s Anastasia Potapova.
Zhang Zhizhen Overcomes Lorenzo Sonego to Reach Third Round
In the men’s singles, Zhang Zhizhen displayed his powerful serve, hitting 17 aces to secure a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. Zhang will next face Greek star and ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday.
Challenges for Wang Yafan and Wang Xiyu
Thursday proved challenging for other Chinese players. Wang Yafan struggled against Dayana Yastremska, losing 6-2, 6-0, ending her campaign in the second round. Meanwhile, Wang Xiyu was defeated by Canada’s Leylah Fernandez with scores of 6-3, 6-4.
