I can play five sets if needed, says battling Zheng

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen continued her French Open campaign in battling fashion as the Chinese eighth seed beat Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek also advanced but had to fend off the challenge of Elena Rybakina before pulling off a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win. 

Zheng fought back from 4-2 down in the first-set tiebreak to get her nose in front before allowing the big-hitting Samsonova to hold in a tense first game of the second set.

The Russian broke to love in the next game and struck again later to draw level in the match, leaving Zheng with a big fight on her hands to reach her maiden Roland Garros quarter-final at the site of her Paris Games triumph last year.

Zheng showed her mettle, however, as the 22-year-old broke for a 4-2 lead and shrugged off a poor service game to get ahead 5-3 before securing victory when Samsonova made an unforced error.

"Right now I feel incredible because I’ve been dreaming of reaching this stage. I have no words to describe my emotions” said Zheng.

"The crowd helped me a lot, they gave me a lot of energy ... I hope I can stay longer in Roland Garros.

"It was an intense match. She put me under a lot of pressure and I ran a lot behind the baseline. But I have a lot of energy. I can play five sets if needed. My body is feeling great and I will push till the end.”

Zheng takes on either world number one Aryna Sabalenka or Amanda Anisimova in the next round. 
REUTERS