Zheng Ends Mboko’s Stunning Roland Garros Debut in Straight Sets
It was an electric atmosphere on Court Simonne-Mathieu as two generations of tennis talent collided—Zheng Qinwen, the 22-year-old Olympic champion and No. 8 seed, faced off against Victoria Mboko, the fearless 18-year-old Canadian qualifier who had taken Roland Garros by storm in her Grand Slam debut. But despite all the promise and the 42-5 season record Mboko carried into the match, Zheng proved that experience and calm under pressure still reign supreme on the sport’s biggest stages.
The match, which lasted just 1 hour and 26 minutes, saw Zheng calmly navigate through two tightly contested sets, ultimately sealing a 6-3, 6-4 victory. This marks Zheng's return to the fourth round in Paris, a feat she first achieved in her 2022 debut. With every game, Zheng showed why she’s become one of the tour’s most formidable competitors. From her opening cross-court winners to clutch break-point conversions, she had an answer for everything Mboko threw at her.
Mboko wasn’t just a footnote in this match—far from it. The Canadian teenager held her own, trading blistering baseline rallies and showing flashes of brilliance that had already stretched top names like Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa in previous matches. But every time she had a window to shift momentum—like when she had a 0-40 lead late in the second set—Zheng shut it with poise and precision.
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Zheng’s ability to convert all four of her break-point chances while Mboko struggled to capitalize on six of her eight attempts told the story. Each set followed a similar script: Zheng struck first, Mboko battled back, but ultimately the Chinese star held firm, refusing to relinquish control.
Even as the match neared its conclusion, an unexpected medical emergency in the crowd briefly paused the tension on court. Zheng, composed and empathetic, continued play once it resumed, and afterwards sent heartfelt wishes to the affected audience member.
In her post-match interview, Zheng acknowledged the level of competition, praising Mboko's fight and the quality of their exchanges. “We really pushed each other,” she said. “It wasn’t easy.”
With this win, Zheng now looks ahead to a fourth-round clash against either Liudmila Samsonova or Dayana Yastremska, both hungry for a first-ever quarterfinal spot at Roland Garros. But today, the spotlight shines on Zheng not just for advancing, but for halting one of the most exciting breakout runs in this year’s tournament.
Victoria Mboko may be heading home, but her presence has been firmly felt. For Zheng Qinwen, the journey continues—strong, steady, and full of purpose.
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