Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen faces a challenging road at Roland Garros after being drawn in the same quarter as World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The eighth-seeded player from the Chinese mainland will open her campaign against 2021 French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, with a potential quarterfinal showdown against the Belarusian powerhouse looming.
Zheng recently broke a six-match losing streak against Sabalenka at last week's Italian Open, injecting fresh intrigue into their potential Paris meeting. Should both advance, their clash would mark a critical test for the 22-year-old rising star seeking her first Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
Three other Chinese players face early hurdles: Yuan Yue confronts in-form fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, fresh from her historic Rome triumph, while Wang Xinyu must overcome 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu before a possible second-round meeting with defending champion Iga Świątek.
The draw positions China's tennis hopefuls at the center of key early-round matchups, offering investors and sports analysts insights into Asia's growing influence in global tennis. For the Asian diaspora and sports enthusiasts worldwide, these matchups highlight China's evolving role in international athletics.
