Qinwen Zheng Advances Amid Controversy at Charleston Open

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Qinwen Zheng triumphed over Elise Mertens in a three-set thriller during the Round of 16 at the Charleston Open on Thursday. Zheng clinched victory with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, showcasing her resilience in a match that tested her tenacity.

Following the intense battle, the 21-year-old Chinese player credited the supportive crowd for her victory. Zheng stated, “I think it’s all of the crowd here because I see everyone here loves tennis and loves this atmosphere. And I believe I won this match today because of all of the crowd. If there was no support today, I think I’m dead.” Her heartfelt acknowledgment added a personal touch to her performance on the court.

However, Zheng’s behavior during the match sparked controversy. A video surfaced on social media of her throwing a tennis ball back towards a ball kid, an action that some interpreted as an emotional outburst. Zheng appeared to be caught off guard by another ball thrown from the ball kid and reacted by tossing it back with noticeable irritation. The ball ricocheted off a wall and rolled back onto the court, drawing criticism from observers.

This incident did not air during the live broadcast and was omitted from the WTA‘s official highlights on YouTube, leaving fans and commentators to speculate about Zheng’s sportsmanship. This is not the first time Zheng has faced scrutiny for her conduct; her icy post-match handshakes and confrontational interactions with officials have been well-documented. In October, she was involved in a heated exchange with a line judge at the Wuhan Open.

As Zheng prepares to face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the quarterfinals later today, her current WTA ranking stands at No. 8 with a season record of 9-5. Tennis fans can stay updated on her journey and other tennis news by following Sports Illustrated‘s Serve coverage.