The final match of the Australian Open has elevated their world ranking to seventh.
The Australian Open is followed by her taking the microphone, and she is quite delightful.
“Thank you, Evonne, for being such a source of inspiration and for presenting us with this lovely trophy. I would also like to acknowledge Zheng, a remarkable player despite her young age. Though it may be disappointing to have lost in the final, I have no doubt she will achieve great things. These past few weeks have been incredible and I am overwhelmed with joy at this moment. As always, my speeches tend to be a bit awkward, but I will do my best. To my team, I am grateful for everything. [They give a heart gesture] Thank you.”
In my speeches when I win, I do not mention my family. If I continue this, they will not be able to understand me. I hope someone will be able to translate. I love you all so much, you are my greatest inspiration and I am doing this for you. Also, thank you to the amazing crowd here, they are what make this place so special. I am looking forward to returning and hopefully, [she embraces the trophy.]
“I am certain that the Australian Open will continue to improve in the future,” she expressed. While clearly disappointed, she remains composed. Great job!
The match between Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen begins at 8:30 GMT.
It’s likely that you selected Sabalenka as your top pick at the start of the tournament. And she has performed excellently, not losing a single set and hitting powerful winners to the far corners of the court. Her mental toughness is now just as consistent as her loud grunts of exertion. She has reached three major finals in the past year, including a loss to Coco Gauff at the US Open a few months ago, where she defeated Zheng in the quarterfinals on her path to the final.
Zheng, the 12th seeded player, may be seen as an unlikely winner, but she also has a dream – never underestimate the power of a dream – to follow in the footsteps of her role model Li Na. Li Na was the last Chinese player to win a major tournament in 2014, defeating Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) to claim the Australian Open title. Zheng’s journey in this competition has been aided by the early elimination of higher ranked players, but her tennis skills have been impressive, particularly her powerful forehand, and her composure has been admirable. May the most deserving player emerge victorious!
