Zheng Qinwen of China made a strong start to her 2025 Australian Open campaign with a convincing 7-6(3), 6-1 victory over Romania’s Anca Todoni in the women’s singles first round at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
Facing Todoni, a 20-year-old qualifier playing her first main draw match at the Australian Open, Zheng displayed resilience and skill. The first set was tightly contested, with both players holding their first three service games to reach a 3-3 tie. Zheng earned the first break point in the seventh game, capitalizing on Todoni’s errors to take a 4-3 lead.
Todoni fought back, saving three set points in a marathon fifth service game that lasted over 11 minutes, ultimately closing the gap to 5-4. She then broke Zheng’s serve to level the set at 5-5, showcasing her tenacity.
However, Zheng remained composed, pushing the set into a tiebreaker, which she dominated 7-3 to secure the first set. Building on this momentum, Zheng entered the second set with increased aggression, quickly establishing a 3-0 lead after breaking Todoni’s first service game.
Despite a brief medical timeout and a hold from Todoni in the fourth game, Zheng was unstoppable. She clinched the next three games in succession, sealing the match with a commanding performance and advancing to the second round.
Zheng’s victory marks a promising start to her Australian Open journey, as she aims to make a deep run in the tournament and inspire fans back home.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
