China’s Wang Ziying and Li Xiaohui have made history by winning their country’s first Grand Slam title in wheelchair tennis. The dynamic duo clinched a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Chinese compatriot Zhu Zhenzhen and Japan’s Manami Tanaka in the Australian Open women’s wheelchair doubles final on Friday.
Li, who was a doubles quarterfinalist in Melbourne last year and reached the semifinals at both the French Open and Wimbledon, showcased her growing prowess on the international stage. Wang, making her debut at the Australian Open after semifinal appearances at Wimbledon in both singles and doubles last year, proved to be a formidable partner.
For Zhu, the loss marked her fourth runner-up finish in doubles at Melbourne Park, continuing a streak of close calls. She’s also a three-time singles runner-up at the French Open. Tanaka, a semifinalist in singles and twice in doubles in Australia, remains in pursuit of her first major title.
This landmark victory not only highlights the rising talent in China’s wheelchair tennis scene but also inspires athletes across the Global South striving for excellence.
