Zheng Qinwen seals historic gold medal for China

Zheng Qinwen secured China’s first-ever gold medal in the Olympic Games tennis competitions, winning gold by beating Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 at Roland-Garros.

“Nothing can describe my feelings right now,” Zheng told UK television immediately afterwards. “I was hoping to get a medal for China, and finally I made it – it was a gold medal, I feel I did everything I could, and I hope my country will be proud of me.”

Vekic’s best efforts couldn’t stop Zheng stretching out to a 3-0 lead, and though she tried to employ her dangerous drop shot to good effect and had a chance to break back, the world No 7 held on to her break advantage, breaking once more to take the first set.

Zheng fends off frustrated Vekic

That first set was much closer than the scoreline suggested, and the second set started equally tightly, with Vekic getting her first break of the afternoon.

But once more Zheng started to stretch her legs, fending off an increasingly frustrated Vekic and taking her first gold medal point to conclude a sensational tournament.

Since the start of 2023, Zheng trails only three women for win percentage on clay – and perhaps unsurprisingly that trio comprises Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka.

Vekic can take a little consolation from the fact that she is only the third player to reach a women’s singles final at the Olympics before reaching a Grand Slam or WTA-1000 final – and is the first Croatian player in tennis history to secure a silver medal at the Olympics in singles.

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