Fired up to meet Swiatek

PARIS • To keep things simpler for her Mandarin-challenged Western friends, rising Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen often goes by the nickname Ana.

But the way the teenager hits a forehand, a serve or just about any shot on a tennis court, her first English-language nickname seems more appropriate.

"At the real beginning at (management company) IMG, they called me Fire," she said at the French Open on Friday.

There is indeed plenty of power and passion in Zheng's game, as she demonstrated in her second-round upset of Simona Halep.

Ranked No. 74 and climbing, the 19-year-old proved yesterday she is one of the most promising young players in the world as she overwhelmed Alize Cornet on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The Frenchwoman, playing with both thighs heavily strapped, retired while trailing 6-0, 3-0.

Call it a bit of luck that Zheng was facing an unfit opponent, but she was also unfazed by playing on the main court of Roland Garros.

It will not get easier from here on for her though, as she will be in fourth-round action tomorrow against the red-hot world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who beat Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-3, 7-5.

"Of course she's wonderful player. Actually, I have been prepared for this match, because I really want to play against her," Zheng, who is only the fourth Chinese woman to make the last 16 in Paris, where compatriot Li Na won her landmark Slam title in 2011, said of her next opponent.

"I did everything I had to do. I always knew that I had the level to do well, and now I just want to keep going."

Now based in Barcelona and coached by Pere Riba, a former top-100 men's player, she has spent much of her short life away from home. Originally from the central Chinese city of Shiyan, she was encouraged by her parents to choose a sport.

"My parents asked me to choose between basketball, badminton and tennis, and I found out my favourite sport is tennis," said Zheng, who also spent two years playing table tennis.

"I felt like there was more space to compete. Tennis is a game of choice. It's not who's stronger or who's more powerful or who's faster. Every decision you make on court can change the match."

If she can keep her focus and make the right decisions, she will be buoyed by the fact that Swiatek, despite her form, is not invincible.

The Pole ran into a spot of bother before beating Kovinic, dropping eight games in the process. Before yesterday, she had dropped only four games in two rounds.

Swiatek, however, is the toughest competitor at the moment after extending her winning streak to 31, the longest on the WTA Tour since Serena Williams' 34 straight victories in 2013. She has also won 46 of her last 47 sets after claiming clay court titles in Stuttgart and Rome.

"I wanted to play aggressively but maybe putting too much power and her balls were so powerful so it was tough to handle at full speed," said the 20-year-old of Kovinic.

In other third-round action, Belarusian seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka suffered a 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 loss to Italian Camila Giorgi, while Spanish third seed Paula Badosa also retired while trailing Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 2-1.

Swiatek is the only top-10 seed left in the Grand Slam.

In the men's draw, second seed Daniil Medvedev cruised past Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, NYTIMES, REUTERS.

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FRENCH OPEN

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