Tennis Australian Open
China’s state media celebrates the finalist with bizarre praise
As of: 9:45 a.m. | Reading time: 2 minutes
“Golden Flower”: Zheng Qinwen is celebrated in her homeland of China
Source: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa
Ten years ago, Zheng Qinwen watched as her tennis role model Li Na became the first Chinese woman to reach the final at the Australian Open. Now the 21-year-old has made it to the final herself. In her homeland she is celebrated exuberantly for this.
She is only one win away from defending her title in Melbourne. The women’s final at the Australian Open will take place at 9.30 a.m. (CET/Eurosport) on Saturday morning. Aryna Sabalenka, second in the world rankings from Belarus, meets Zheng Qinwen from China.
In her home country, the challenger was enthusiastically celebrated by the state media after reaching the final. “Respect for this full commitment and let’s go to the final,” wrote the “People’s Daily”, which is also the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, on state-monitored social media. Making an effort makes a dream shine, it continued.
Zheng defeated Ukrainian qualifier Dajana Jastremska 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday. “Thanks to the Chinese friends here on the court who cheered me on,” Zheng said after her win. It is an unforgettable memory for her.
“Golden Flower Zheng,” is the headline of a sports newspaper
Ten years after Li Na won the title, a Chinese woman is once again in the final in Melbourne. Zheng is currently ranked 15th in the world. Healing time for the “Golden Flower Zheng,” was the headline in the “Chinese sports newspaper”. At the Australian Open, the 21-year-old Chinese had a good start but also a hopeless low, it said.
“But when she just stands on the court, this woman becomes a warrior who never gives up,” the paper wrote. Her calm charisma on the court, the incomparable love of tennis and good talent coupled with the “toughening” on the international tennis courts would have produced today’s Zheng Qinwen.
