Roland-Garros: Zheng sets up Swiatek clash after Cornet retirement

Chinese teenager Qinwen Zheng moved into the last 16 of Roland-Garros when Frenchwoman Alize Cornet retired on Saturday afternoon from their third-round encounter on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Zheng, ranked No 74, led 6-0, 3-0 when Cornet, ranked No 40, had to stop at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris on Saturday.

The Frenchwoman had already said earlier in the year that she was considering hanging up her racquets at the end of this season.

The 19-year-old Chinese will face Pole Iga Swiatek, the top seed, next.

“Of course she’s a wonderful player,” said Zheng in her press conference. “Actually, I have been prepared for this match, because I really want to play against her. So I’m excited for this match.”

Qinwen Zheng defeated Belgian Maryna Zanevska (6-3, 6-1) and Romanian Simona Halep, the No 19 seed (2-6, 6-2, 6-1) in the previous rounds.

In the previous rounds of the French Open, the Frenchwoman won against Japanese Misaki Doi (6-2, 6-0) and Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 13 seed (6-0, 1-6, 6-3).

Paris (Grand Slam): Other third-round results (Stade Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 43.600.000, most recent results first):

• Iga Swiatek beat Danka Kovinic: 6-3, 7-5
• Irina-Camelia Begu beat Leolia Jeanjean (WC): 6-1, 6-4
• Sloane Stephens beat Diane Parry: 6-2, 6-3
• Jil Teichmann (23) beat Victoria Azarenka (15): 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 [5]
• Cori Coco Gauff (18) beat Kaia Kanepi: 6-3, 6-4
• Elise Mertens (31) beat Varvara Gracheva: 6-2, 6-3
• Aliaksandra Sasnovich beat Angelique Kerber (21): 6-4, 7-6 [5]
• Martina Trevisan beat Daria Saville (WC): 6-3, 6-4
• Leylah Fernandez (17) beat Belinda Bencic (14): 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
• Amanda Anisimova (27) beat Karolina Muchova: 6-7 [7], 6-2, 3-0 ab.

You might also like this

First Slam QF achieved, Cornet dreams a new dream: “For the first time in my life, I really believe I can go till the end”

tennis majors

Alizé Cornet calls French Minister of Sport a “disaster” in television interview

tennis majors