In a shocking turn of events at the Paris Olympics, China’s Zheng Qinwen defeats Iga Swiatek, halting the Polish star’s remarkable 25-match winning streak on the clay courts of Roland Garros. The sixth-seeded Zheng outplayed the top-seeded Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 in the women’s tennis semi-finals, leaving spectators and experts stunned.
Swiatek, 23, had been virtually unbeatable at Roland Garros, securing the past three French Open titles. This defeat marks her first loss at the venue since 2021, a setback that left the world number one emotional. The overwhelming favorite for Olympic gold, Swiatek struggled to process the loss, opting not to speak with written press as permitted under Olympic rules.
For 21-year-old Zheng, this victory propels her into the biggest final of her burgeoning career. The world number seven, who was runner-up at this year’s Australian Open, now stands one win away from Olympic glory. She awaits the winner of the other semi-final between Croatia’s Donna Vekic and Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in Saturday’s gold-medal match.
The fact that Zheng Qinwen defeats Iga Swiatek not only shakes up the Olympic tournament but also signals a potential shift in the women’s tennis landscape. Zheng’s ability to outplay Swiatek on her preferred surface suggests a bright future for the young Chinese star.
As the tennis world absorbs this unexpected result, all eyes will be on the gold-medal match to see if Zheng can cap off her Olympic campaign with the ultimate prize.
