Qinwen Zheng looks back on 'amazing memories' at 2024 Australian Open after Aryna Sabalenka defeat
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Published 27/01/2024 at 11:50 GMT
Qinwen Zheng has reflected on the "amazing memories" from her impressive run at the 2024 Australian Open, despite losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Sabalenka successfully defended her title at the tournament with a 6-3 6-2 victory, beating Zheng for whom it was a debut appearance in a Grand Slam final. Zheng has moved into the world's top 10 as a result of her performances in Melbourne.
Zheng reflects on 'amazing memories' after final defeat to Sabalenka
Qinwen Zheng says she will look back on the 2024 Australian Open with "amazing memories" despite losing in the final to Aryna Sabalenka.
Zheng reached her maiden Grand Slam final in Melbourne, and has moved into the world's top 10 as a result.
But the 21-year-old was prevented from becoming just the second Chinese tennis player in history to win a Grand Slam by Sabalenka, who triumphed 6-3 6-2 to successfully defend her Australian Open title on Rod Laver Arena.
Zheng struggled to deal with the precise and powerful hitting of Sabalenka, who was the first seeded player she had faced at the tournament.
A No. 12 seed herself, she had defeated the likes of Britain’s Katie Boulter, France’s Oceane Dodin, Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya and Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska to reach the final.
Despite the disappointing end to an impressive run, Zheng seemed confident there would be "more" opportunities to win a Grand Slam in the future.
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'It's back-to-back Aus Open titles' - Watch moment Sabalenka defeats Zheng in final
She already has two WTA titles to her name, winning in Palermo and Zhengzhou in 2023.
"First of all I want to say congratulations to Aryna, you had such a wonderful match here," Zheng said.
"It’s my first final and I’m feeling a little bit pity, but that’s how it is. I want to say thanks to the fans for watching me. I feel very complicated, I feel I could have done it better than I did in this match.
"But I want to say thanks to my team for helping me to arrive here. I really enjoyed to play in this Australian Open, amazing memories for me - I’m sure there will be more and better in the future."
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Australian Open final highlights: Sabalenka is champion again after triumph over Zheng
Zheng’s victory against Yastremska in the semi-finals booked her a place in the Australian Open singles showpiece 10 years after compatriot Li Na won the tournament, becoming the first Chinese player in history to earn a Grand Slam title.
She told Eurosport before the final that Li was her inspiration, saying: “She gives a lot of hope, in that moment, to young kids like me. I think she means a lot for everyone."
Li won her first Grand Slam title in her third final, with Eurosport expert Mats Wilander believing Zheng can take solace from this.
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'A massive learning curve' - Experts react to Zheng losing to Sabalenka in final
"The belief is there because Li Na did win it," he said. "If you look at the match-up, this is the worst match-up for her for me. Sabalenka on a fast hard court? That’s not good.
"Clay court, it is a completely different match. I think she’s going to improve massively, when you hear her coach talk about how hard she works.
"Wakes up at 7 in the morning, never complains, and has to pull her off the court in practice."
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