Chinese tennis enthusiasts had a lot to cheer for as the country’s top players showcased impressive skills and determination in the ongoing Hangzhou Asian Games. The initial stages of the competition saw four Chinese athletes, both in men’s and women’s singles, advancing confidently to the third round.
The Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre is buzzing with excitement, as five coveted gold medals await the tennis champions of this year’s Asian Games. A group of 11 skilled Chinese athletes are participating, with an additional incentive for the winners: the champions of the two singles events will automatically qualify for the prestigious 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
In the women’s singles division, the formidable top seed, Zheng Qinwen, demonstrated her supremacy by effortlessly defeating Maralgoo Chogsomjav of Mongolia in a match that ended with an unblemished score of 6-0, 6-0. Closely following her success, the second seed, Zhu Lin, sealed her spot in the third round by overcoming Ushna Suhail of Pakistan in straight sets.
Zheng and Zhu, both of whom have had notable past achievements, including Zheng’s recent quarterfinal appearance at the US Open, are expected to continue China’s dominance in the women’s singles, a title held by the country since the 2006 Doha Asian Games. However, their stamina was put to the test in the doubles. After a mere three-hour respite post their singles matches, they faced a challenging duel against Japan’s Momoko Kobori and Ayano Shimizu. Unfortunately, the Chinese pair faced defeat in this first-round doubles match.
Despite this setback, Zhu returned with renewed vigor for her third match, partnering with Buyunchaokete. The duo dominated the court, securing a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Shakhnoza Marimova and Amir Milushev of Uzbekistan in mixed doubles, wrapping up the match in a swift 43 minutes.
Renowned Beijing sports analyst, Liu Yu, commented on the strength of the Chinese contingent at the Asian Games. Highlighting the potential of Chinese players in the women’s singles, she emphasized the psychological pressure they might face playing on home turf. For Liu, the key to success lies in staying focused, putting aside global rankings, and treating each game as a unique challenge.
Another intriguing partnership to watch is the women’s doubles pairing of Yang Zhaoxuan, the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games champion, with Wang Xinyu. Liu Feng, the national women’s tennis team’s head coach, described this pairing as a strategic preparation for the Paris Olympic Games, with the Asian Games serving as an essential practice ground.
On the men’s front, Zhang Zhizhen triumphed over Faleh Alhogbani of Saudi Arabia, while Wu Yibing, the men’s singles silver medalist from the Jakarta Games, outperformed Justin Barki of Indonesia. Wu, a native of Hangzhou, is resolutely aiming to become the first mainland Chinese male to clinch the singles title since the 1990 Beijing Asian Games. In the doubles, Zhang and Wu displayed their synergy, advancing to the quarterfinals, hoping to replicate the success China witnessed in 1990.
In addition to his participation in singles and doubles, Zhang, who has had commendable performances in international tournaments, pairs up with Yang in the mixed doubles category.
The Hangzhou Asian Games offers a great opportunity for Chinese tennis players, given the country’s achievements of two golds and two silvers in the Jakarta Games in 2018. As the matches progress, hopes are high for another stellar performance by the Chinese tennis contingent.
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