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    Qinwen Zheng Beats Donna Vekić to Win Gold Medal in Olympic Women's Tennis Bracket

    Julia StumbaughAugust 3, 2024

    China's Zheng Qinwen returns to Croatia's Donna Vekic during their women's singles final tennis match on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on August 3, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP) (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images)
    CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images

    China's Qinwen Zheng defeated Croatia's Donna Vekić in straight sets Saturday to earn a gold medal in women's tennis singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Zheng, the No. 6 seed, beat No. 13 seed Vekić 6-2, 6-3 to become the first Chinese player to win Olympic gold in singles tennis.

    ITF @ITFTennis

    Qinwen Queen of Paris! 👑🥇<br><br>Qinwen Zheng becomes the first Chinese player to ever win a singles gold medal at the Olympic Tennis Event!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tennis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tennis</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZNYR2lND8N">pic.twitter.com/ZNYR2lND8N</a>

    Zheng's victory followed a stunning Olympic run that saw her save a match point against Emma Navarro and complete a semifinal upset No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek, during which she snapped Swiatek's 20-match win streak on clay.

    Pellegrino Dell'Anno @pelledelpo02

    Emma Navarro was leading Qinwen Zheng 7-6, 5-3 and advantage. She had match point in the third round.<br>Zheng saved it all to progress and win the gold medal.<br>Simply...tennis.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PARIS2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PARIS2024</a>

    Oli Dickson Jefford @odicksonjefford

    Zheng Qinwen saved a match point in round three, came from 1-4 down in the 3rd in her QF, beat the heavy favourite in the SF, and then dominated the final.<br><br>A run that deserves a gold medal - a tennis superstar is born.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a>| <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>

    Zheng opened the final by dominating the first set, winning despite several closely contested points as Vekić struggled with unforced errors.

    ITF @ITFTennis

    One step closer to 🥇<br><br>Zheng Qinwen takes the first set 6-2 in the women's singles final.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tennis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tennis</a> <a href="https://t.co/GGNQ7gQ9mb">pic.twitter.com/GGNQ7gQ9mb</a>

    T @Dr_Roll_1

    Qinwen Zheng is to much for Donna Vekic in this gold medal match 😤🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a>

    Bears Hoops and Aces - Matt Hill @hoops83657

    Zheng wins the first set 6-2. Vekic with 3 winners and 12 unforced errors that is not going to cut it against Zheng.

    During the second set, Vekic continued to struggle with errors as Zheng pulled out to a 2-0 lead.

    robin - taylor swift @MsRobinHosking

    Reluctantly thinking Zheng has probably got enough to win gold and happy for her tbh. Gutted Vekic seems to be having a mare <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tennis?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tennis</a>

    Vekić begin to push back, eventually tying the set at 2-2.

    Qinwen Zheng Beats Donna Vekić to Win Gold Medal in Olympic Women's Tennis Bracket
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    Just when you thought Qinwen Zheng had the match in the bag, Donna Vekic fights back.

    The two fought to another tie before Zheng claimed the next two sets. She finished with a forehand drop shot to claim the win.

    The gold medal is the first of Zheng's career, and caps off a season that saw her go to the finals of the Australian Open in January.

    R. @NotRuff_

    Qinwen Zheng has improved so well in the past year !!!! US Open QF, Australian Open finalist and now about to clinch an Olympic Gold medal after a near flawless run !

    The victory marks just the second time in history Olympic gold has gone to a Chinese tennis player, following Li Ting and Sun Tiantian's doubles win at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

    Next up men's tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will face off for Olympic gold in the men's singles final Sunday following the women's doubles bronze doubles match.