China's top tennis player Zheng Qinwen showcased her exceptional skills by effortlessly defeating Kamilla Rakhimova with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 scoreline in the second round of the China Open on Saturday. The 21-year-old from Hubei Province, who won China's first-ever singles gold medal at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, demonstrated her dominance on the court during her return to Beijing.
Zheng entered the WTA 1000 event with a bye in the first round and wasted no time asserting her presence. Her powerful forehand and relentless groundstrokes overwhelmed Rakhimova, leaving her opponent struggling to keep up. The match, held on the Diamond Court in the Chinese capital, was a short but thrilling display for the 15,000-strong crowd.
Earlier this year, Zheng made headlines by reaching her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open and advancing to the quarterfinals of the US Open in September. Her performance at the China Open further cements her status as one of the rising stars in the world of tennis.
Reflecting on her success, Zheng shared, \"I strengthened my physical fitness recently and increased the amount of exercises I do. If you do well in physical training, you can reach a high ball speed while only using 70 percent of your power, instead of 100 percent. So I think the training is of great help to me.\"
Looking ahead, Zheng is set to face Argentina's Nadia Podoroska in the third round, where she aims to continue her impressive run in the tournament.
Reference(s):
China Open: Olympic champ Zheng eases past Rakhimova in Beijing return
cgtn.com
