Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen's French Open journey concluded Tuesday with a hard-fought 7-6(3), 6-3 quarterfinal loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Roland-Garros. The eighth-seeded Zheng, who recently snapped a six-match losing streak against Sabalenka in Rome, showcased early aggression by breaking serve in the third game to lead 3-1.
Despite her spirited start, unforced errors proved costly for the 22-year-old from the Chinese mainland. A critical double fault in the eighth game allowed Sabalenka to level the first set, which escalated into a tense tiebreaker. Zheng initially led 2-0 in the tiebreak but faltered as the Belarusian star claimed seven of the next eight points.
The second set saw Sabalenka capitalize on Zheng's inconsistent service games, securing decisive breaks to advance to the semifinals. While disappointed, Zheng acknowledged progress in her clay-court game, telling reporters: "I'm learning to handle pressure better in big moments. This experience will help me grow."
Zheng's performance reinforces her status as Asia's top-ranked WTA player and a rising force in women's tennis. Her Roland-Garros campaign marked her deepest run at the tournament to date.
