In a monumental victory at the hallowed grounds of the Roland Garros Stadium, Chinese tennis sensation Qinwen Zheng etched her name in the annals of history by clinching the first-ever Olympic gold in tennis for her country. The colors of China painted the venue as Zheng made a remarkable stride, becoming the first Asian player to reach a singles final at the prestigious Olympic Games and the first from her continent to triumph over the number 1 seed on clay.
Following a hard-fought victory over Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, Zheng soared to the pinnacle of success by outclassing Donna Vekic in the final showdown. The Chinese star delivered a masterclass performance, claiming the gold with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 triumph, while Vekic of Croatia had to settle for the silver medal, marking a historic achievement for her nation.
In a heartfelt on-court interview, Zheng basked in the glory of her unprecedented triumph, expressing her elation and gratitude for etching her country’s name in the record books. “I am so happy that I made history,” Zheng exclaimed with joy. “When I looked at all the great players, how they created history, I really wanted to be one of them. In 2004, Liu Xiang said that he will always remember that moment when he was 21 years old. Here I am. I am also 21 years old. This incredible feeling. It means a lot. It means everything because since I was a child, I really wanted to win a medal for my country, maybe not gold, just a medal. This time I did it. It was a gold medal. No one has done that in tennis in Asia.”
Her voice brimming with pride, Zheng reflected on her journey to the historic victory, revealing, “I feel super proud of myself because this time I beat the pressure. I beat my limit. I didn’t know before that I could go through 5 matches in a row. Especially 7 hours in 2 days. I feel that here in this tournament I have overcome my limit. In the future no matter how low I will be, I will remember this moment and it will cheer me up.”
The young tennis prodigy also opened up about the nerve-wracking moments on the court, confessing, “The last point really made me nervous. My hand was actually shaking. Every match when I go to the bathroom, my body shakes. I’ve never felt so hungry to win a match. I could give everything I have, but I know that tennis doesn’t work like that. It’s not like you give everything and you always get the results.”
With her resounding victory at the Olympics, Qinwen Zheng has not only made a name for herself but has also carved out a lasting legacy for Chinese tennis on the global stage. Her triumph will be etched in the memories of fans and tennis enthusiasts for years to come, serving as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes around the world.
