In a historic moment for Chinese tennis, Wang Ziying and Li Xiaohui clinched China's first-ever Grand Slam title in wheelchair tennis at the Australian Open. The dynamic duo defeated their compatriot Zhu Zhenzhen and Japan's Manami Tanaka with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory in the women's wheelchair doubles final on Friday.
Li Xiaohui, who reached the doubles quarterfinals in Melbourne last year, continued her impressive form by pairing with Wang to achieve this milestone. Last season, Li also advanced to the doubles semifinals at both the French Open and Wimbledon, showcasing her consistency at the highest level.
Wang Ziying, making her Australian Open debut, built on her success from last year's Wimbledon, where she reached the semifinals in both singles and doubles. Their triumph not only marks a personal achievement but also signifies a significant breakthrough for wheelchair tennis in China.
Despite the loss, Zhu Zhenzhen's performance adds to her notable record at Melbourne Park, where she has been a doubles runner-up four times. She remains a formidable player, having also been a three-time singles runner-up at the French Open. Manami Tanaka of Japan, a semifinalist in singles and twice in doubles at the Australian Open, continues to pursue her first major title.
This landmark victory for Wang and Li is expected to inspire a new generation of athletes in China and highlights the growing prominence of Asian players on the global wheelchair tennis stage.
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Wang & Li win China's first Grand Slam title in wheelchair tennis
cgtn.com
