Zheng claims historic Olympics tennis gold for China

Zheng Qinwen has claimed a historic first Olympic singles gold for China after defeating Donna Vekic in the women’s final.

Zheng, the 21-year-old who burst into the elite with a run to the Australian Open final this year, defeated Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-2 6-3.

The 105-minute success was well-deserved, coming two days after her shock elimination of raging favorite Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros.

The Polish world No.1 was on a 25-match winning streak on the Parisian red clay, having claimed the last three French Open titles.

Zheng dismantled both Vekic and Swiatek, who regrouped to win bronze, with powerful serves and groundstrokes, aided by fanatical support.

Right before Zheng delivered the very first serve, loud shouts of “Jia You!” in Mandarin rang out from all sections of Philippe Chatrier on Saturday as fans waved red-and-yellow flags.

It’s a phrase that literally means “Add oil!” — in other words, “Hit the gas!” — and is loosely equivalent to “Let’s go!”

Those yells summarized right after Vekic put her return into the net and they were heard over and over again whenever things went Zheng’s way throughout the proceedings on a breezy, cloudy afternoon.

“It’s just unreal,” Zheng said after signing autographs.

“All my country will be proud of me. I will be proud of myself.”

The world No.7’s success could be a mighty breakthrough for the sport in the China, where tennis authorities have invested heavily in hope of inspiring more players and fans.

International Tennis Hall of Fame member Li Na is the only Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title — at the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open — and served as inspiration for Zheng when she was a kid learning the sport.

“I have always been jealous of history-makers like Li Na,” Zheng said.

“She’s always the first because she’s the first Asian player to win a grand slam and I now become the first Asian player to win Olympic gold.

“I still have a long way to go because winning a grand slam is always my dream.”

Vekic, a 28-year-old who is No. 21 in the rankings, got a silver three weeks after being a semi-finalist on the grass courts at Wimbledon.

She was so worn out by that run at the All England Club that she was considered withdrawing from the Olympics.

“I had pain in my arm. Pain in my ankle. I was sick,” Vekic said. “Everything was happening all at once.”

A Chinese pair also took silver in the mixed doubles, Wang Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen, who lost their final to Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac.