Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, saw her Madrid Open journey end early Friday after a tough 6-4, 6-4 loss to Russia's Anastasia Potapova. The 🔥 21-year-old rising star struggled with her signature serve in the Spanish heat, bowing out in just 99 minutes of play.
Zheng, currently ranked No. 8 globally, faced fierce competition from the 87th-ranked Potapova, who capitalized on the Chinese player’s inconsistent serves. 🎯 Stats tell the story: Zheng won only 40% of first-serve points in the opening set vs. Potapova’s 64%. Fans watched hopes rise briefly when Zheng broke back at 5-3, but a late-set collapse sealed her fate.
'It just wasn’t my day,' said Zheng post-match, echoing her visible frustration. The loss means no Chinese players remain in Madrid’s singles draws — a blow for fans rooting for 🇨🇳 representation.
Other surprises rocked the tournament, including Tunisia’s 2022 champ Ons Jabeur crashing out to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, while top seed Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the next round. 🔄 Will Zheng bounce back at Roland-Garros? Stay tuned! 💪
