China assured of two tennis medals at Paris Olympics with Zheng Qinwen in women's singles finals, Zhang Zhizhen & Wang Xinyu in mixed doubles finals
Chinese player Zheng Qinwen will play in the women's singles final while her compatriots Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu will play in the mixed doubles finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. China is now assured of two medals in the event.
Zheng began her Olympics singles campaign with a double bagel over Italy's Sara Errani. In the second round, she defeated Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-2, 6-4.
The sixth seed was next up against 11th seed Emma Navarro. The Chinese player lost the first set but came from behind to win the match 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-1.
Zheng faced Germany's Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinal. The German was playing in her final professional tennis tournament and her defeat against the 21-year-old meant she was officially retired. Zheng won the match 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(6).
In the semifinal, she faced her toughest test yet against top seed Iga Swiatek. The Pole boasted phenomenal form at Roland Garros with a 25-match streak that included three French Open titles. However, Zheng broke the streak without losing a set 6-2, 7-5 to reach the gold medal match.
On the other hand, Zhang and Xinyu, who were paired together following Zheng's withdrawal from the event, faced the Brazilian pair of Thiago Seyboth Wild and Luisa Stefani in the first round. The Chinese duo won 3-6, 6-3, [10-8].
In a tightly-contested quarterfinal, the Chinese pair got the better of Australian No. 2 seeds Ellen Perez and Matthew Ebden 6-7(8), 7-6(8), [10-5].
In the semifinals, Zhang and Xinyu ousted the Netherlands duo of Demi Schuurs and Wesley Koolhof 2-6, 6-4, [10-4].
Zheng Qinwen, Zhang Zhizhen & Wang Xinyu's opponents in the gold medal match at Paris Olympics 2024
One of China's greatest tennis talents, Li Na, registered China's highest finish in a singles tennis event when she came 4th at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Zheng Qinwen will become the first Chinese player to win a medal in the singles event at the 2024 Paris Olympics no matter the result in her final on Saturday, August 3.
Zheng will face Croatia's Donna Vekic in the final for the gold medal. Zheng has faced Vekic twice on the tour and the pair's head-to-head is tied at 1-1.
On the other hand, the mixed doubles pair of Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu will take on Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac. They will play the gold medal match on Friday, August 2.