Zheng Qinwen reaches first Grand Slam singles semis at Australian Open

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-01-24/Zheng-Qinwen-reaches-first-Grand-Slam-singles-semis-at-Australian-Open-1qD57EccUak/img/24c60b7499484154850888ac2a3cc006/24c60b7499484154850888ac2a3cc006.jpeg' alt='Zheng Qinwen of China celebrates her victory over Anna Kalinskaya of Russia in the women's singles quarterfinals at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, January 24, 2024. /CFP'

Zheng Qinwen of China came back to defeat Anna Kalinskaya of Russia 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1 in the women’s singles quarterfinals at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday, advancing to a Grand Slam singles semifinal for the first time in her career.

Zheng’s previous best performance in any of the four Grand Slam events was reaching the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open in 2023. She has been unstoppable at Melbourne Park this year, continuously refreshing her best record at the tournament after beating Ashlyn Krueger of the U.S., Katie Boulter of Britain, her compatriot Wang Yafan and Oceane Dodin of France on her way to the last eight.

The first set between Zheng and Kalinskaya was closely contested, with both players breaking each other’s serve twice. In the tiebreak, Kalinskaya claimed the set by scoring a backhand winner.

<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-01-24/Zheng-Qinwen-reaches-first-Grand-Slam-singles-semis-at-Australian-Open-1qD57EccUak/img/71ad32ffb293433e917cbef186b37859/71ad32ffb293433e917cbef186b37859.jpeg' alt='Zheng Qinwen of China competes in the women's singles quarterfinals against Anna Kalinskaya of Russia at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, January 24, 2024. /CFP'

Having gotten used to the opponent’s style of play, Zheng began to give full play to her serving skills. She first won three straight games after the second set reached 3-3 to level the match at one set apiece. Then, in the final set, Zheng dropped only the first game before claiming six consecutive games to seal the deal.

Zheng is the third player from the Chinese mainland to reach the women’s singles semifinals at a Grand Slam tournament, after Li Na and Zheng Jie. At 21, she is the youngest one to achieve the feat.

Zheng’s opponent in the semifinals will be Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, who defeated Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, earlier on Wednesday. In the other half of the competition, fourth-seed Coco Gauff of the U.S. will play the No. 2 seed and reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.