Historic Triumph for Zheng: First Olympic Gold Medal in Tennis for China

In an impressive and tension-filled final, the sixth-seeded Zheng triumphed over the thirteenth-seeded Vekic, securing China's first Olympic singles medal in tennis. Zheng's skilled use of spin and slice prevailed against Vekic's powerful shot technique and delicate drop shots. For Zheng, this victory marks not only her first Olympic medal but also a significant historical achievement for her homeland. Meanwhile, Vekic crowns her most successful season to date with a silver medal, having reached the Wimbledon semifinals just a few weeks ago. Final analyses by Matt Futterman and James Hansen highlight how Zheng perfected her tactical abilities against Germany's Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals. In long, high rallies, Zheng forced her opponent to generate all the power, which often led to errors. Zheng applied this tactic consistently in the semifinals against world number one Iga Swiatek by using high and slow shots to neutralize Swiatek's scoring through serves. Against Vekic, Zheng varied her playing style, frequently driving the Croatian wide off the court or taking the ball out of her strike zone with high forehands. Zheng's clever use of slices and spins forced Vekic into more rallies than she preferred. This proved highly effective against Vekic, whose game relies on powerful groundstrokes aimed at quick points. In crucial moments of the match, particularly in the first set when Vekic threatened to catch up, Zheng once again demonstrated her composure. With intelligent and aggressive point play, she managed to secure the first set and ultimately dominate the match. Vekic fought bravely but was unable to find the rhythm and confidence that had distinguished her performance at Wimbledon. Despite this defeat, Vekic remains a success story of the season, supported by her coaches Nikola Horvat and Pam Shriver, who have significantly improved her mental recovery and focus on the next point. Another highlight of the match was Vekic's drop shot. Normally a strength of the Croatian, it failed her this time. This allowed Zheng to decisively win the final set and clinch the historic victory. In an emotional finale, Zheng expressed her immense joy and emphasized the significance of this gold medal for China and herself. "I have always hoped to win a medal for China, and finally I have done it. A gold medal. My country will be proud of me, and I will be proud of myself.