Zheng Qinwen, the eighth seed from the Chinese mainland and reigning Olympic gold medalist, continued her dominant run at Roland-Garros by defeating Russia's Liudmila Samsonova in a three-set thriller.
On Court Suzanne Lenglen, Zheng battled through 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-3 to extend her French Open streak to 10 straight wins. The hard-fought victory showcased her blend of power, precision and poise under pressure.
Despite lifting Olympic gold at the same venue last summer, Zheng kept her focus firmly on the week ahead. 'It's different, because in a Grand Slam we need to play seven matches, and the Olympic Games is six matches to get a gold medal,' she said. 'I just want to stay calm and fight every single match. Forget what happened last year, but just fight at this moment in Roland-Garros.'
Next up, Zheng will face World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, who advanced by overcoming Amanda Anisimova. A clash between the reigning Olympic champion and the top-ranked player promises to be one of the most compelling matchups of the quarterfinals.
As Zheng bids for her maiden Grand Slam title, her blend of youthful energy and strategic savvy makes her a player to watch at this year's French Open.
Reference(s):
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen battles into French Open quarterfinals
cgtn.com
