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SCMP Sport

Agencies

China’s Zheng Qinwen said it “was not my day” after she crashed out of the Australian Open on Wednesday, losing in straight sets to German Laura Siegemund in the biggest shock so far at the year’s first grand slam.
A finalist last year, fifth seed Zheng had been among the favourites, but had no answer to her 36-year-old opponent, who has claimed the scalps of several top-10 players during a career spanning more than a decade.
The second oldest player in the women’s draw in Melbourne, and competing in her 27th major tournament, Siegemund rolled back the years in an impressive 7-6, 6-3 victory on John Cain Arena.
And while Olympic champion Zheng looked out of sorts, she refused to blame a lack of warm-up matches, or a row over a shot-clock violation for her failure to get past the second round.

“I still have an [elbow] injury and I played with a slight pain. It affected me occasionally and I am not fully recovered,” Zheng said.
“I think in fact, not playing warm-up matches has no effect on me, today I mainly did not play well on the court.”
Zheng was put under pressure early as Siegemund, who fired down 11 return winners in the first set alone, went toe-to-toe from the baseline with the 22-year-old, who seemed flat and devoid of rhythm.
While the world No 97 fluffed her lines when serving for the set at 5-4 up, she made no mistake in the tie-break, moving 6-3 ahead and taking her first opportunity to get ahead.
“I had a lot of chances to break her in the first set but, you know, in that moment maybe my concentration wasn’t there,” Zheng said. “At the same time, I felt she was playing really good. It’s tennis, nothing more.”
A first violation at 4-4 in the opening set was followed by a second at 2-1 and a break down in the next, and Zheng lost her cool after a row with the umpire over the placement of the shot clock.
“I mean, I got disturbed from that one, but I don’t lose the match for that,” she said.
Still, Zheng double-faulted to hand Siegemund a 3-1 lead which the German never relinquished, serving out for a famous win to go alongside those over the likes of Simona Halep and Venus Williams.
“I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis and I had nothing to lose, so I just told myself to swing free,” Siegemund said. “She’s an amazing player. She’s just one of the best players right now, but I know that I can play well and I just wanted to show that to myself and make it a tough fight.
“And, you know, some days you just go outside and you have the ball on the racquet.”

While Zheng goes home, Aryna Sabalenka, her conqueror last year, marches on, as she bids to become the first woman to win three straight titles at Melbourne Park since Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.
The Belarusian did not have things all her own way in a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who broke her opponent in the first set and was 4-1 up at one stage in the second. However, the world No 54 could not maintain it.
“She played incredible tennis today and it was a really tough one,” Sabalenka said. “I mean, I expected this tennis from her, so I’m really glad that I was able to win this match.”
In a later match, former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka fought back from a set down to reach the third round of a grand slam for the first time since the birth of her daughter in 2023, and gaining a “little revenge” for defeat at the US Open.
The Japanese star, who won in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, dropped the first set against 20th seed Karolina Muchova before winning 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
The Czech Republic’s Muchova was victorious when the pair last met, at last year’s US Open.
“Honestly, it took everything,” Osaka said when asked how she turned the match around. “I felt like I left everything I had on the court. I could have done better, but just to be back on these courts … It really makes my whole year.”

A relentless Carlos Alcaraz charged into the third round with a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 rout of Japan’s Yoshito Nishioka, continuing his domination of left-handers at grand slams.
Third seed Alcaraz has never lost to a “southpaw” at the majors and extended the streak to eight against the outgunned Nishioka in a lightning-quick match at Margaret Court Arena.
“I think the less time you spend on the court at the grand slams … it’s going to be better, you know?” the Spaniard said. “Physically, I’m feeling great. I just tried to be focused.”


Australian Open, day 6: fired-up Novak Djokovic sends warning, Naomi Osaka bows out injured

Australian Open, day 4: Zheng Qinwen says ‘not my day’ after shock loss, Naomi Osaka wins

Why NBA, tennis could bypass Hong Kong despite its new HK$30 billion Kai Tak Sports Park

Australian Open day 3: three Chinese win, three exit – as Daniil Medvedev destroys racquet

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

China’s Zheng Qinwen had a bad day at the office, and is out of the Australian Open. Photo: Reuters

Laura Siegemund rolled back the years in her straight sets win over Zheng Qinwen. Photo: Xinhua

Naomi Osaka celebrates winning her match against Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova. Photo: Reuters

Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka (right) congratulates Carlos Alcaraz after their second-round match. Photo: EPA-EFE

Majestic Knight returns to his sweet spot: ‘he’s been running in the wrong races’

Hugh Bowman and Majestic Knight claim victory at Happy Valley in July. Photo: Kenneth Chan

HKJC

‘If it’s Friday, this must be Manila’: Hong Kong Eastern basketball team’s mad 48 hours

Canadian centre Chris McLaughlin (left) said Eastern’s travelling would be tiring. Photo: EASL

Hong Kong Eastern face three matches in three competitions in less than 48 hours. Photo: Eastern

Eastern coach Mensur Bajramovic would not say which players would fly back and forth. Photo: EASL

Sport

Tennis

She says she has not fully recovered from an elbow injury, while Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Zheng in last year’s final, marches on


She says she has not fully recovered from an elbow injury, while Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Zheng in last year’s final, marches on.


Australian Open