Here’s why Zheng Qinwen’s French Open failure could cost her millions in sponsor deals

For one Chinese tennis player the unfamiliar surrounds of a place in the last 32 of a grand slam, for another a continuing fall down the rankings and the potential loss of millions in sponsorship revenue.

There were contrasting fortunes for qualifier Wang Xiyu, No 148 in the world, and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen at the French Open this week, although in truth only history makes the latter’s travails a surprise.

Wang’s superb run as the only Chinese woman left in the women’s singles continued at Roland Garros on Friday with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine.