Tennis Women’s Singles Round 3: Zheng Qinwen Battles for Three Hours – Overcomes Navarro to Advance to the Quarterfinals

On July 30, in the third round (Round of 16) of the women’s singles event at the Paris Olympic Games, Chinese player Zheng Qinwen came back from behind to defeat American player Navarro 2-1, advancing to the quarterfinals and maintaining a perfect record of three wins in the Olympics so far.

First Set: Zheng Qinwen 6-7 (9) Navarro

The match began with 11th-seeded Navaro of this Olympic Games quickly finding her rhythm, securing the first game with one ace and three second serve points. Zheng Qinwen lost the opening game due to a net play error but then equalized in the second game with powerful serving.

In the third game, during Navarro’s service, the two players fought to a 40-40 draw. Navarro scored two points in a row with a long-range winner and an ace, preventing Zheng Qinwen from breaking serve. Both players gained relative advantages on their serves, with the score temporarily at 2-1 in favor of the American player.

In the fourth game, Zheng Qinwen struck two consecutive aces, followed by a successful net attack and rally point to win the game 4-0, leveling the score at 2-2.

In the fifth game, Navarro remained strong on her serve. Although Zheng Qinwen won a net play exchange, she did not find an opportunity to break serve, with the score at 3-2, Navarro leading.

In the sixth game, Zheng Qinwen demonstrated her powerful serving once again, winning with two aces and a winning return, bringing the score level again.

In the seventh game, Zheng Qinwen capitalized on three errors by her opponent to secure the first break point of the match, taking the lead 4-3.

In the eighth game, Zheng Qinwen committed a double fault, making the score close, but she then scored off two backhand errors by her opponent, taking the lead 5-3 and reaching set point first.

In the ninth game, Navarro scored consecutively on her serve, reducing the deficit to 4-5.

In the tenth game, Zheng Qinwen made several errors on serve, allowing her opponent to break back and tie the score at 5-5.

In the eleventh game, the two players were locked in a fierce battle, reaching 40-40. Zheng Qinwen entered game point twice via her opponent’s errors but was then tied up. The opponent scored two points in a row to stop Zheng Qinwen from breaking serve and led 6-5, reaching set point.

In the twelfth game, Zheng Qinwen gave her opponent no chance, dominating on serve, winning 4-1, forcing a tiebreak.

In the tiebreak, Zheng Qinwen scored first, but both players became locked in a tight battle, tying the score at 3-3. After changing sides, Zheng Qinwen scored three points in a row, only to have her opponent catch up with three points. They changed sides again. In the end, Navarro scored two points in a row to win the tiebreak and take the first set, leading 1-0 overall.

Second Set: Zheng Qinwen 7 (7) – 6 Navarro

In the first game, Zheng Qinwen served. Perhaps affected by losing the tiebreak, she did not regain her form on serve, being broken after her opponent capitalized on her errors, giving Navarro a 1-0 lead.

In the second game, during Navarro’s service, Zheng Qinwen pushed the score to 40-40, but her opponent scored two points in a critical moment, winning two games straight, taking a 2-0 lead over Zheng Qinwen.

In the following two games, both players held their serves safely, with the score at 3-1, Navarro leading.

In Zheng Qinwen’s service game, her opponent took the lead initially, but Zheng Qinwen won three points in a row and then scored two more points in a crucial moment to win the game, with the score at 2-3, trailing by one game.

In the sixth game, during Navarro’s service, Zheng Qinwen seized the opportunity to break serve, leveling the score at 3-3.

In the seventh game, the opponent capitalized on Zheng Qinwen’s double fault and backhand error to break serve again, leading 4-3.

In the eighth game, Zheng Qinwen led 40-0, but Navarro used her serving advantage to level the score and then turn around game point, leading 5-3 and reaching match point.

In the first match point game, Zheng Qinwen was forced into a 40-AD situation by her opponent, but she then won three points in a row to hold serve, with the score at 4-5, still on her opponent’s serve.

In the second match point game, her opponent served, with Zheng Qinwen leading 40-0, earning three break points. She then held on to level the score at 5-5, saving the match point.

In the eleventh game, Zheng Qinwen served, committing three double faults in a row, allowing her opponent to break serve easily, entering the match point game again.

In the twelfth game, her opponent served and repeatedly made errors. Zheng Qinwen seized the opportunity, forcing the match into another tiebreak.

In the tiebreak, Zheng Qinwen used her opponent’s errors to lead 4-2 before changing sides. After the change, Zheng Qinwen continued to dominate, winning the tiebreak 7-4, leveling the sets at 1-1.

Third Set: Zheng Qinwen 6-1 Navarro

Entering the deciding set, in the first game, the opponent who had never double-faulted before committed consecutive double faults. Zheng Qinwen took the game 40-15, breaking serve.

In the second game, Zheng Qinwen served, winning four points in a row against her opponent, leading 2-0.

In the third game, the opponent’s mentality was affected, and she was broken serve again. Zheng Qinwen led Navarro 3-0, gaining a significant advantage in the deciding set.

In the fourth game, Zheng Qinwen served again, winning the game 40-30 without much trouble, leading 4-0 in games. Zheng Qinwen hit 11 aces in the entire match.

In the fifth game, Navarro tried to turn the match around, using her serving advantage to win a game, trailing 1-4 overall.

In the sixth game, Zheng Qinwen served again, winning four points in a row, leading 5-1 and reaching four match points.

In the seventh game, the opponent’s mentality collapsed, and she was broken serve again. Zheng Qinwen scored three points in a crucial moment, winning the game 6-1 and the match 2-1, advancing to the quarterfinals.