China's Olympic tennis champion Zheng Qinwen suffered a stunning first-round exit at Wimbledon on Tuesday, falling to Czech World No. 81 Katerina Siniakova in a grueling three-set match. The 6th-ranked Zheng acknowledged lapses in focus after squandering a 5-3 first-set lead, ultimately losing 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 on Court Three amid sweltering conditions.
"I should've capitalized on my service games better," Zheng told reporters post-match, describing the grass-court showdown as a learning experience. The defeat extends her recent Grand Slam struggles, with four early exits in her last six major tournaments.
Compatriot Zhu Lin joined Zheng in early elimination, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Russia's Veronika Kudermetova. The 31-year-old has now suffered five first-round exits in seven Wimbledon main draw appearances.
While Chinese fans mourned these losses, Wang Xinyu provided a silver lining by securing her second-round berth. The rising star's progression offers hope for China's grass-court campaign as Wimbledon enters its crucial stages.
The mixed results highlight both the challenges and potential of Chinese tennis on the global stage, with players navigating Wimbledon's unique surface demands and intense competition. All eyes now turn to Wang as she carries the nation's singles hopes forward.
