Can Zheng Qinwen match Serena Williams' Olympic success at the 2024 US Open ||||
On Sunday at the 2024 US Open, fans will be treated to a highly anticipated rematch between Zheng Qinwen and Donna Vekic, a reprise of their Olympic gold medal clash. Zheng, who clinched China’s first singles Olympic medal with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 win over Vekic in Paris, will be looking to repeat that performance.
If Zheng secures victory over Vekic and subsequently wins the US Open, she would become the fourth woman to achieve the rare feat of winning both Olympic gold and the US Open in the same year. She would join an elite group that includes Serena Williams (2012), Venus Williams (2000), and Steffi Graf (1988). Notably, Graf and Venus Williams accomplished this feat with a scheduling twist: the Seoul and Sydney Olympics took place after the US Open, unlike the usual sequence.
If Zheng succeeds on Sunday, remains unbeaten, and captures the US Open title, she will have three notable similarities to Serena’s achievement in 2012.
Firstly, both players had to adapt quickly to the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, having previously competed on different surfaces. Serena won Olympic gold on grass, while Zheng secured hers on clay.
“On clay, it’s different games, different tactics,” Zheng noted. “I’m sure [Sunday's rematch] will be more challenging because I see [her] as more of a hard-court player than a clay-court player.”
Secondly, both Zheng and Serena won their Olympic medals at Grand Slam venues. The London Olympics took place at the All-England Club, and the Paris Olympics were held at Roland-Garros.
Post a Comment