Olympic champion Zheng released as Australian Open 2025 brings first shock | Tennis News

Zheng comes off the back of an unprecedented second-round loss in Siegemund as former champions Sabalenka and Osaka come through.

Zheng Qinwen has become the first big name to exit the women’s tournament at the Australian Open after the Olympic champion was stunned by Laura Siegemund while top seed Aryna Sabalenka made heavy weather in her second round match before going through.

Jessica Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka in last year’s US Open final, advanced safely while Tokyo Olympics champion Belinda Bencic advanced after a brief rain delay on the outdoor courts on day four.

China’s Zheng had been looking to emulate Li Na’s 2014 triumph at Melbourne Park but his hopes were dashed at the John Cain Arena, where unseeded German Siegemund cruised to a stunning 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory.

The fifth seed left the court looking like he was about to burst into tears while world number 97 Siegemund beamed from ear to ear after the famous win.

“I knew I had to play more than my best tennis – there’s nothing to lose so I told myself not to turn around and relax,” Siegemund said on court.

“He is an amazing player, he is one of the best players now. But I know I can play and I wanted to make it a tough fight.”

Zheng said it was not his day.

“I had many chances to break him in the first set, but you know at that time maybe I wasn’t in my right mind,” said the 22-year-old.

“At the same time, I felt that he was playing very well. It’s tennis, nothing else.”

Sabalenka wants to become the first woman to win three straight titles at Melbourne Park since Martina Hingis, from 1997 to 1999, and while the Belarusian beat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5, she didn’t have it all her way. .

After easing through the first two games of the match at Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka traded two breaks against the world number 54 before taking a 5-2 lead and closing out the opening set in action.

The three-time Grand Slam champion came under a lot of pressure in the next set and found himself trailing 4-1 as an inspired Bouzas Maneiro began hitting winners on both sides of the court.

Sabalenka found a spark elsewhere and battled back from 5-2 down to level at 5-5 and fired the winner after breaking again in the next game before wrapping up the tournament to extend her hardcourt major win streak to 16.

“She played amazing tennis today and it was really tough,” said Sabalenka.

“I mean, I was expecting this tennis from him, so I’m very happy that I was able to win this match.

“In the second set … I wasn’t in too much of a rush after 5-2, I was like, ‘Okay, whatever, let’s just leave this second set and move on. And yes, I was able to convert it.

“I’m very happy to win in straight sets, especially for someone like him, who makes you work for every point.”

American seventh seed Pegula beat Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2 at the Margaret Court Arena while Bencic beat Suzan Lamens 6-1, 7-6(3) after Olga Danilovic stunned Liudmila Samsonova 6- 1, 6-2.

Former world number 1 Osaka, who is the 2019 and 2021 champion in Australia but has not yet been seen, came back strongly to beat 20th seed Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.