Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen secured a thrilling three-set victory over Russia's Liudmila Samsonova at the French Open on Sunday, advancing to her first Roland-Garros quarterfinal. The Olympic gold medalist battled through a 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-3 match on Court Suzanne Lenglen, extending her winning streak at the Parisian clay courts to 10 matches.
Despite her 2023 Olympic triumph at the same venue, Zheng downplayed expectations. "It's different because Grand Slams require seven wins, while the Olympics needed six," she said. "I don't consider myself a defending champion here. Every match demands fresh focus."
The eighth seed now faces her toughest challenge yet: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Amanda Anisimova in straight sets. This quarterfinal clash marks a pivotal moment for Zheng, who seeks her maiden Grand Slam title while carrying China's hopes in international tennis.
