Qinwen Zheng Wins Olympic Gold in Women’s Tennis

Qinwen Zheng has made history by winning the gold medal in women’s singles tennis at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Chinese player, who was seeded No. 6, faced off against Croatia’s Donna Vekic, the No. 13 seed, and they battled it out on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

The match concluded with Zheng dominating Vekic in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-3. This victory marks Zheng’s first Olympic medal and makes her the first Chinese player to ever win a singles gold medal in tennis.

Zheng’s impressive performance throughout the tournament was highlighted by her strategic use of heavy topspin and clever slice shots. Her game plan proved effective against Vekic, who struggled to find her rhythm during the match.

Despite facing pressure, Vekic had her moments, including a strong fight during the first set. However, Zheng remained calm and executed critical plays at crucial moments, ultimately taking control of the match.

Vekic, who recently reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, couldn’t quite replicate that success in the final against Zheng. The Croatian’s game was hindered by a high number of unforced errors, with statistics showing she had just 13 winners compared to 30 unforced errors.

Throughout the competition, Zheng faced tough opponents, including saving a match point against Emma Navarro and defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. Her journey to the gold medal has been nothing short of extraordinary.

As the crowd cheered for both players, it was Zheng who emerged victorious, capping off a standout season that included reaching the finals of the Australian Open earlier in the year.