Maja Chwalinska dumps Zheng Qinwen out of French Open
Quick Look
- Qualifier Maja Chwalinska defeated Zheng Qinwen 6-4, 6-0 in the first round of the French Open.
- Zheng, a quarter-finalist last year and Olympic gold medalist, has struggled with form and a foot problem.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Zheng Qinwen, a former world No 4 and quarter-finalist at the French Open last year, has been struggling to regain form after elbow surgery. She also won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024.
Zheng Qinwen’s troubled tennis career took another bad turn on Monday, as she was dumped out of the French Open in emphatic fashion by qualifier Maja Chwalinska.
The Polish 24-year-old, who is ranked 116 in the world, dispatched her more illustrious opponent 6-4, 6-0.
A quarter-finalist in Paris last year, Zheng also won Olympic gold on the same clay courts in 2024, but has struggled to regain the form that propelled her to world No 4 after undergoing elbow surgery last year.
The 23-year-old took treatment for a foot problem midway through the second set before her first defeat in the opening round of the French Open.
World No 114 Chwalinska, who came through three rounds of qualifying and dished out two bagels along the way, showed no mercy and wrapped up the win to book a clash with either Tatjana Maria or 23rd seed Elise Mertens in the second round.
In a later match, Chwalinska’s compatriot Iga Swiatek kicked off her quest for a fifth title at Roland Garros with a swift 6-1, 6-2 win over Australian wild card Emerson Jones.
Open Questions
- Will Zheng Qinwen's foot problem require further treatment or impact future tournaments?
- Can Maja Chwalinska maintain this level of performance in subsequent rounds?
- What is the long-term outlook for Zheng Qinwen's career given her recent struggles?
