Zheng Qinwen blamed the lack of a warm-up event and a serve-clock violation for her shock Australian Open exit in straight sets to German veteran Laura Siegemund.
China’s Olympic champion and last year’s beaten finalist gave an unusually flat performance as she bowed out in the second round in Melbourne.
Zheng became flustered when she fell foul of the 25-second timer at a crucial moment in the second set before losing 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 to Siegemund, the world No 97.
Fifth seed Zheng was playing just her second match of 2025, saying “issues” after the season-ending WTA Tour Finals had prevented her playing in any warm-ups.
”For me there was no chance to play a tournament before the Australian Open this year because there were some issues in my body I didn’t solve yet,” the world No 5 said without elaborating on the nature of the problem.
Zheng also admitted that the serve-clock dispute had “distracted” her.
At 2-2, 15-30 in the second set, Zheng received a second time violation which cost her a first serve. She had a lengthy argument with the chair umpire, complaining that she could not see the serve clock, to no avail.
”The clock was on the side, so I couldn’t see it if I bounce the ball,” explained Zheng. “So I don’t know if I’m late or I’m early. ”
Zheng completely fluffed the subsequent second serve and then double-faulted on break point to hand Siegemund a crucial 3-1 advantage.
It led to a stunning defeat for the 22-year-old, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2024, beating then No 1 Iga Swiatek on her way to winning Olympic gold in Paris and claiming three WTA titles.
Zheng reached the championship match at the WTA Tour Finals in Riyadh, where she was edged only in a final-set tiebreak by Coco Gauff.
”I feel maybe today is not my day,” said Zheng. “That’s all I can say. It’s tennis.”
Siegemund, the second-oldest player in the women’s draw at 36, said: “I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis. I had nothing to lose so I just told myself to swing free.”
Novak Djokovic made history on his way to the third round, along with Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka.
Djokovic, 37, beat qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2 in his 430th singles match at a major, the most by a player in the Open Era.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
