On January 12th, Beijing time, in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open, the fifth seed Zheng Qinwen defeated Todoni 2-0 to secure her first victory of the new season, with scores of 7-6(3), 6-1. Zheng Qinwen has successfully advanced through the first round in all four of her appearances at the Australian Open, and after this match, she earned 70 points and 200,000 Australian dollars.
This victory did not come easily for Queen Wen, especially when she saved three match points after leading 5-3 in the first set, narrowly winning 7-6(3). She entered her rhythm in the second set, quickly securing a 6-1 victory. Her opponent, Todoni, was a young Romanian player who had qualified for the main draw. If Zheng Qinwen had been reversed in the first set, it would have undoubtedly affected her mentality. This match can be considered a close call.
After the match, People's Daily sent congratulations: Chinese player Zheng Qinwen saved three match points in the first set, won the game through a tiebreak, and defeated her opponent in the second set to secure a good start at the Australian Open.
In an on-site interview after the match, Zheng Qinwen said, "The more attention I receive, the greater the pressure I feel, which also motivates me to become a better player. I enjoy playing under pressure."
At the post-match press conference, Zheng Qinwen said: "I give myself a 70 out of 100 for my first win at the Australian Open. If I had won the first set while leading 5-3, I would have given myself a 90. But there were mistakes then, and such mistakes could be fatal against top players. I didn't win the first set at 5-3, but at 5-4, I felt stable, especially when I was leading 40-0. Maybe it was because I lacked a sense of crisis and urgency."
During Petkovic's interview with Zheng Qinwen: "You are the defending champion, oh no, you are the defending runner-up. Now you are a superstar around the world. With so much attention on you now, what changes do you feel?"
For the first match of the new season, as long as the fans see a victory, they should be satisfied enough. However, Zheng Qinwen is a person with high standards.
Written by Yan Xiaobai: Comprehensive Observation