Australian Open: Zheng Qinwen aims to follow Li Na into history books and become China’s second grand-slam singles champion
- Defending champion and world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka stands in the way of Zheng in Melbourne on Saturday
- ‘Queen Wen’ eyes a breakthrough triumph a decade after Li Na last reached these heights for China
History beckons for China’s Zheng Qinwen at the Australian Open on Saturday as she contests the women’s singles final bidding to follow in some illustrious footsteps.
The 21-year-old from Shiyan in Hubei province will enter the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne to face defending champion and world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka, aiming to do as Li Na did a decade ago and lift the title.
“The feeling was incredible to arrive at my real first grand slam final, that’s [been] my dream since I was a kid,” Zheng said, touching on her three appearances last year in WTA events, two of which she won.
A winner in Palermo before tasting success on home soil at the Zhengzhou Open, she now enters more rarely charted territory. Should the player nicknamed Queen Wen go a step further, she will be only the second Chinese to own a grand-slam singles crown.
Li won the French Open in 2011, then three years later added an Australian Open after a final that the young Zheng watched with fellow school pupils in a classroom in Li’s hometown of Wuhan.
“When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a professional [tennis] player … I hope that kids can look up to me and I can influence them,” Zheng said this week.
“I hope little kids can look up at me and say I’m not only a good tennis player but I’m also a good person, optimistic and enthusiastic.”
However, Zheng faces a tough task on Saturday. She met her opponent at the US Open last September, with Sabalenka winning their quarter-final in straight sets and going on to reach the final. Indeed, the Belarusian made it to at least the semi-finals of all four slams last year, going on to triumph in Melbourne.
“Zheng has already learned a lot of lessons from her past experiences, especially when facing top players such as Aryna Sabalenka,” said Wang Dong, a Chinese tennis expert and professor of sports journalism.
“From my point of view, she’s got nothing to lose and everything to prove – she’s going into this match as the underdog.
“Whereas for Sabalenka, who is already a grand slam champion, all eyes will be on her to deliver and defend her title.
“[Zheng] does have a shot, I do believe it. It might not be 50-50, it could be 45-55, but Zheng really has to charge ahead to make it happen.”
Zheng’s powerful serve and devastating backhand will be among her weapons against Sabalenka.
“Her backhand is a killer and she can use it to create acute angles that her opponents find very difficult to reach,” Wang said.
Can Queen Wen follow in Li Na’s footsteps, 10 years after watching historic win?
Since Thursday’s semi-final victory, Zheng has been the talk of Weibo. A hashtag relating to her name was viewed over a million times on the social media platform on Friday, with hundreds of thousands of users wishing her luck.
“China’s tennis still depends on us Chinese women,” one comment read.
Other users shared images of her meeting with fellow Hubei native Li following her third-round victory over compatriot Wang Yafan.
“The Australian Open is the blessed land for Hubei women,” one person posted. “Zheng will hit hard and fight boldly on Saturday.”
