Qinwen Zheng defied the odds to knock favourite Iga Swiatek out of the women’s singles at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and it was all too much for the world No. 1 afterward.
Swiatek broke down in tears while speaking to Eurosport in the bowels of Roland-Garros, having let a 4-0 lead slip in the second set when her Chinese opponent – who took the first set – appeared to be on the ropes.
The reigning champion at Roland-Garros and winner of four French Opens in the last five years, Swiatek had made Olympic gold a major focus of her season after she was knocked out in the quarter-finals at Tokyo 2020.
But a nightmare first set ended 6-2 in favour of Zheng, and when the Chinese player broke Swiatek to draw level in the second set after the Pole had raced into a 4-0 lead, the world No. 1 looked crestfallen.
Swiatek tried to show a brave face when speaking to Eurosport’s Pawel Kuwik afterward, but could not hide the disappointment and had to end the interview early.
When asked why she slumped from 4-0 to 4-4 and ultimately 5-7 in the second set, Swiatek added: “It’s the result of the match. So I just messed up.”
Poland are yet to strike gold at the 2024 Olympics with arguably their biggest strength yet to come in the track and field events.
Swiatek will fight for bronze against the loser of the second semi-final between Croatian Donna Vekic and Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia, while Zheng awaits the winner in the gold medal match.
Then Swiatek’s focus switches to her pursuit of a second US Open crown, with the first round of the women’s competition getting underway in late August at Flushing Meadows.
