Zheng Qinwen, a 21-year-old tennis player from China, made history by becoming the first Chinese player to win an Olympic Games tennis singles gold medal. She achieved this milestone by defeating Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the final match with a score of 6-2, 6-3. This victory marks only China’s second ever tennis gold, following Li Ting and Sun Tiantian’s women’s doubles triumph in Athens in 2004.
The final took place on the iconic Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, the same court where Chinese tennis star Li Na became China’s first Grand Slam champion in 2011. Zheng expressed her emotions after the win, stating, “Nothing can describe my emotion, every round was super difficult, and I did everything I could to get a medal for my country. I feel my country will be proud of me, I’m proud of myself.”
Throughout the tournament, Zheng showed exceptional resilience and determination. She saved a match point in her third-round match against Emma Navarro and ended Iga Swiatek’s 25-match winning streak at Roland Garros to reach the gold medal match. Her match-hardened spirit was evident as she held her ground against Vekic, ultimately securing the victory.
In the men’s doubles event, Australia’s Matthew Ebden and John Peers clinched the gold medal after a thrilling match against Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram of the United States. The unseeded Australian pair fought back from a set and break down to win 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/1), 10-8 against their fourth-seeded opponents. This victory marked Australia’s second Olympic men’s doubles title, with the last win dating back to Atlanta in 1996.
For John Peers, it was a significant achievement as he claimed his second Games medal, having previously won bronze alongside Ashleigh Barty in the mixed doubles event in Tokyo three years ago. The success of both Zheng Qinwen and the Australian doubles pair highlights the competitive and thrilling nature of tennis at the Olympic Games.
The Olympic Games in Paris continue to showcase incredible talent and sportsmanship across various disciplines. As athletes from around the world compete for glory, moments of triumph and perseverance like Zheng’s historic win and the Australian duo’s gold medal victory remind us of the power of sports to unite and inspire people globally.
