ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider China's Zheng rejoices at 'breakthrough' US Open win over Jabeur

China's Zheng rejoices at 'breakthrough' US Open win over Jabeur

Published Sep 5, 2023 03:27 am

At A Glance

  • Rising Chinese star Zheng Qinwen reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal on Monday, Sept. 4, at the US Open after knocking out last year's runner-up Ons Jabeur, describing it as a "breakthrough" win after enduring her share of frustration this season.

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Rising Chinese star Zheng Qinwen reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal on Monday, Sept. 4, at the US Open after knocking out last year's runner-up Ons Jabeur, describing it as a "breakthrough" win after enduring her share of frustration this season.

33UD3AY-highres.jpg
China's Zheng Qinwen celebrates after victory against Tunisia's Ons Jabeur during the US Open tennis tournament women's singles round of 16 match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on Sunday, Sept. 4. (AFP)

The 20-year-old Zheng's blend of power and precision overwhelmed a weary Jabeur, her 6-2, 6-4 victory sending the 23rd seed through to a meeting with incoming world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

"Honestly the feeling was fantastic, especially in that moment. I feel this is like important win for me. Like you say, it's a breakthrough," said Zheng.

"I always been waiting this moment to happen. Honestly, at beginning of year I'm thinking it's going to happen very fast.

"Because I'm focusing that moment too much about the result and I lost little bit the patience of myself, that's affect a lot to my tennis part."

She earned the WTA newcomer of the year award in 2022, winning her debut at all four majors and making a run to the French Open last 16 before losing in three sets to eventual champion Iga Swiatek.

But Zheng had won just two Grand Slam matches this season before carving out a bit of history in New York, where she and Wang Xinyu became the first two Chinese players to reach the fourth round at the same US Open.

While Wang lost to Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova on Sunday, Zheng became only the fourth Chinese woman to make the last eight at Flushing Meadows -- following in the footsteps of Wang Qiang, Peng Shuai and Li Na.

Zheng is one of the "Li Na generation" of young players who took up tennis after the success of China's first Grand Slam singles champion, who won the French Open in 2011 when Zheng was eight.

"When she won the French Open...the first Asian who won a Grand Slam, that give a lot to young kid, especially for me," Zheng reflected.

"In that moment I start to think, 'Oh, as an Asian, we also able to win a Grand Slam at big stage like that.'"

"Before that, tennis isn't so popular in China. I mean, my parents doesn't know what is tennis before I start to play. That's true," said the genial Zheng.

"After Li Na tennis become more popular sport in China. Thanks to her a lot. She also put a dream seed in my heart that I want to become like that."

 

'Things going to happen'

 

Li also won the 2014 Australian Open, months after her final US Open ended with a defeat in the semifinals.

As Zheng closes in on the trailblazing Li's best Flushing Meadows performance, it was clear she strives to emulate and, perhaps, one day surpass the achievements of Asia's first Grand Slam singles champion.

"Of course, I'm super happy to being here, but I will not use the word like 'surprised' because I know what I'm capable to do," said Zheng.

"I know if I can, I have to focus in right moment right here and don't think too far. I don't want to have the same mistake like at beginning of the year."

Standing in her way next is Sabalenka, who will replace outgoing champion Iga Swiatek at the top of the rankings after the tournament, but Zheng is not one to shy away from a challenge.

"I always believe that I'm able to beat everyone if I play the right tennis that I have to play," said Zheng.

"Of course, the opponent will also play good. There is going to be lot of competition. But I believe that if I'm really there fighting for every point, I mean, things going to happen.

"You can never say that, but we will see."

Related Tags

Ons Jabeur US Open
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.