Paris Olympics 2024: Top Seed Iga Swiatek Upset by Zheng Qinwen in Semifinals

Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the top seed and defending champion, was stunned by China’s Zheng Qinwen in the Olympic women’s singles semifinals on Thursday. Zheng, seeded sixth, defeated Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 at Court Philippe Chatrier, ending Swiatek’s 25-match winning streak at Roland Garros.

Match Summary

Swiatek, favored for gold after her third consecutive French Open title, struggled with errors throughout the match, hitting 36 unforced mistakes. Despite a promising start to the second set, where she led 4-0, Swiatek faltered as Zheng mounted a comeback. Zheng broke Swiatek’s serve at 5-5 and closed out the match with a decisive serve, which Swiatek initially thought was out but was confirmed in.

Tournament Implications

Zheng’s win marks the first time a Chinese player has reached the Olympic singles final. She will face either Anna Karolina Schmiedlova or Donna Vekic for the gold. Swiatek will compete for the bronze medal, with the defeat underscoring the unpredictability of the tournament.

Looking Ahead

Swiatek’s focus will now shift to the bronze medal match and future competitions as she aims to recover from this setback. Zheng’s performance highlights a new force in women’s tennis and adds excitement to the remaining Olympic matches.