Olympic champion Zheng rejected as Australian Open 2025 delivers first shock | Tennis news

Zheng leaves after second-round loss to unseeded Siegemund as former champions Sabalenka and Osaka battle it out.

Zheng Qinwen has become the first big name to exit the women’s draw at the Australian Open after the Olympic champion was stunned by Laura Siegemund, while top seed Aryna Sabalenka made rough 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 Olympic champion Belinda Bencic advanced after a brief spell of rain delayed proceedings on the outer courts on day four.

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

The fifth seed left the court looking like she was about to burst into tears as world number 97 Siegemund beamed from ear to ear after a famous victory.

“I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis — you’ve got nothing to lose, so I told myself to swing free,” Siegemund said on court.

“She’s a great player, she’s one of the best players now. But I know I can play and I would make it a tough match.”

Zheng said it just wasn’t her day.

“I had a lot of chances to break her in the first set but you know in that moment maybe my concentration wasn’t there,” said the 22-year-old.

“At the same time, I felt that she played really well. It’s tennis, nothing more.”

Sabalenka is bidding to become the first woman to win three consecutive 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 quite have it on her own manner. .

After easing through the first two games of the match on Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka twice traded breaks with the world number 54 before taking control for a 5-2 lead and closing out the opening set on serve.

The three-time Grand Slam champion’s serve came under intense pressure in the next set and she found herself trailing 4-1 as an inspired Bouzas Maneiro began hitting stinging winners on both sides of the court.

Finding a spark from somewhere, Sabalenka battled back from 5-2 down to level at 5-5, firing a backhand winner to break again in the next game before ending the contest to extend her winning streak at the hardcourt major to 16.

“She played incredible tennis today and it was a really tough one,” Sabalenka said.

“I mean, I expected this tennis from her, so I’m really happy that I could win this match.

“In the second set … I didn’t rush too much after 5-2, I was like, ‘OK, whatever, we’ll just leave this second set and we’ll move on. And yeah, I was able to turn it around.

“I’m super happy with the win in straight sets, especially against someone like her who makes you work for every point.”

American seventh seed Pegula beat Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena, while Bencic beat Suzan Lamens 6-1, 7-6(3) after Olga Danilovic stunned 25th seed Liudmila Samsonova 6-1 , 6-2.

Former world number one Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 champion in Australia but now unseeded, stormed back to defeat 20th seed Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.