PARIS: Zheng Qinwen became just the second Chinese player to reach an Olympic singles semi-final on Wednesday, ending the career of former world number one Angelique Kerber.
Zheng, the women’s world number seven, fought back from a break down in the deciding set, sealing a 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win on her fourth match point. Only China’s Li Na has previously played an Olympic singles semi-final in either men’s or women’s tennis, reaching the last four at the 2008 Beijing Games.
There were six breaks of serve in a topsy-turvy first set before 36-year-old Kerber, a silver medallist at the 2016 Games, won the tie-break. Zheng battled back to level the match but was in deep trouble when trailing 4-1 in the decider.
However, she broke Kerber to love in the seventh game to rein in the German and get back on serve, with the set going to a tie-break. Zheng, who hit 64 winners in total, took charge against her exhausted opponent in the breaker, establishing a 6-3 lead, but she squandered three match points.
However, as the drama mounted under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier, Zheng made her fourth match point count as Kerber dumped a forehand into the net in the final shot of her tennis career. The German, now ranked at 212 in the world, announced last week that she would retire at the end of the Games after returning from maternity leave at the start of the season. “What can I say? I gave everything,” she said. “I have loved playing tennis. Now I can leave in peace.”
This still taken from a video released on November 13, 2023, shows participants during a horse race in Lahore. —...
English batter Joe Rooet pictured with New Zealand's Kane Williamson. — APF/FileGREATTER NOIDA, India: New...
England's Ollie Pope walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket for seven runs on day three of the third...
England´s World Cup-winner Moeen Ali waves hand in this image. — AFP/File LONDON: England´s World Cup-winner...
Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi attends a press conference on the eve of their one-off Test cricket match...
An image showing Pakistan and Malaysian hockey players during their Asian Hockey Champions Trophy match in Hulunbuir...