Wimbledon Aspirations and Upsets: Zheng Qinwen's Grass Court Journey and Tatjana Maria's Stunning Run 🎾
Underdog Zheng overpowers local star Raducanu
An electrifying battle unfolded at the Andy Murray Arena during the Queen's Club Championships as top seed Zheng Qinwen outclassed home favorite Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-4, and 37-year-old Tatjana Maria knocked out 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina to advance to the semifinals.
In a brutally competitive match, Zheng exhibited her grit and tenacity, showcasing her potential as a formidable contender for Wimbledon. Even though she had only her fourth match point to convert, Zheng's victory marked her first semi-final on grass. Despite Zheng's impressive adaptability to various court surfaces, she's been discovering her ground on grass since she's worshiping at its altar, with the 22-year-old demonstrating a remarkable improvement versus Raducanu after she changed her shoes mid-match, when Raducanu was serving.
"Aw, shucks, I apologize for my shoes. I didn't wanna trip twice, but I just didn't know how to scamper across the grass," Zheng sheepishly admitted. "I still couldn't figure out the best time for the grass shoes swap, but I reckon it's now. So, it's the new cleats, and I now feel more ready for a run."
While Zheng and Raducanu traded blows in the opening set, Zheng ultimately took advantage of her opportunities, breaking serve to secure a 4-2 advantage. Although the crowd overwhelmingly cheered for Raducanu, Zheng maintained her composure, clinching the first set despite tumbling on set point.
Raducanu called for a medical timeout for a back ache before the second set, giving her an advantage and helping her secure a double break to establish a 3-0 lead. Zheng swiftly responded, leveling the set and taking a 5-4 lead with an overhead smash that barely touched the line, sending the spectators into a frenzy. With Raducanu serving to stay in the match, Zheng registered three match points, two of which she secured.
Meanwhile, Maria astonished everyone with her performance, as a mother of two, whose eldest girl is a mere 11, she competed in the qualifiers and achieved a series of victorious knockouts, including those over Karolina Muchova and Leylah Fernandez. In the quarterfinals, she overthrew Rybakina 6-4, 7-6(4), shaking up the tournament with her courageous play on grass.
Ranked 86th in the world, Maria spoke about the significance of her journey, "Oh my goodness, this means the world to me. It's a beautiful message to never give up, to never stop pushing yourself, no matter what you experience in life, 'cause I'm still here, living a dream. My family's with me, an incredible team by my side. There's incredible love and support, and we're thoroughly enjoying the rollercoaster together."
She expressed her high hopes that her daughter will follow in her footsteps and compete on the same stage in a few years. Maria was set to face second seed Madison Keys last night, having clawed back from a set down to defeat Diana Shnaider 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 after an extraordinary comeback performance.
"Diana played exceptionally well today. She's always a handful. I had to boost my level after the first set, and I'm grateful I managed to figure it out," said Keys.
Zheng Qinwen, using her tennis skills and persistence, demonstrated her potential to excel in sports, particularly on grass courts, with her impressive victory over Emma Raducanu. Meanwhile, Tatjana Maria continue to stun the tennis world as she progressed in the tournament, showcasing her tenacity in her stunning run.
