German veteran Laura Siegemund pulled off the biggest shock of the Australian Open so far, defeating fifth seed and Olympic gold medallist Qinwen Zheng 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in the second round at Melbourne Park.
Qinwen Zheng, last year’s runner-up and a tournament favorite, fell to a determined Siegemund in a match marked by tactical precision and controversy. The defeat makes Zheng the highest-ranked player to exit the singles draw so far, leaving fans stunned and Siegemund relishing a career-defining moment.
In a match where every point felt like a battle, Siegemund’s experience proved vital. The German capitalized on Zheng’s struggles during critical moments, particularly in a tense first-set tiebreak. Zheng, known for her powerful baseline game, was unable to find her rhythm, faltering under Siegemund’s relentless defense and clever shot placement.
This tennis game wasn’t without drama. Zheng was penalized twice for time violations, with one infraction costing her a crucial first serve. Expressing her frustration to the umpire, Zheng claimed she couldn’t see the shot clock clearly, a grievance that appeared to affect her focus. “Maybe today is not my day,” the 22-year-old admitted post-match. “There’s a lot of details in the important points. I didn’t make the right choices.”
