Latest news, Zheng Qinwen's mentality collapsed. Unexpectedly, she was swept out of the Australian Open by the 36-year-old veteran Siegemund in just two sets, creating the biggest upset of this year's Australian Open! After the match, Zheng Qinwen refused to shake hands with the referee and bluntly said: "The referee's decision greatly affected my concentration. This is the first time I have encountered such a situation, but these are not the reasons for my loss. Overall, it was very difficult for me today."
It must be said that in this second-round women's singles match at the Australian Open, Zheng Qinwen's performance was really disappointing. As a strong player ranked fifth in the world, she should have been a strong contender for easy advancement, but she was unexpectedly defeated by Siegemund, ranked 97th in the world, with scores of 6-7 and 3-6, suffering elimination. If Zheng Qinwen had the opportunity to advance smoothly, then she would have had the chance to challenge for the Australian Open championship. However, the reality is cruel. Zheng Qinwen's mentality completely collapsed during the match, becoming the biggest highlight of the game.
In the first set, although both sides once fought to a tiebreak, Zheng Qinwen obviously did not perform as well as her opponent in grasping key points, and eventually lost regrettably. Entering the second set, Zheng Qinwen's state took a sharp turn for the worse, and after being broken several times, her mentality was completely unbalanced. Especially after being penalized by the referee for serving overtime, her emotions reached a boiling point. Despite her vigorous argument, it was fruitless. This decision undoubtedly became the straw that broke the camel's back.
If this time Zheng Qinwen had faced the referee's misjudgment calmly and maintained a stable mentality; or if her serve could have been as stable and powerful as before, then the result might have been completely different. However, reality has no ifs. The mental problems exposed by Zheng Qinwen in this match undoubtedly became the biggest reason for her loss.
Therefore, do not believe in the so-called "favorites must win" rule. Maybe there will be a shocking upset next moment. Zheng Qinwen's humiliating defeat undoubtedly sounded the alarm for all athletes: in competitive sports, mentality and technology are equally important. Only by maintaining a stable mentality can one exert their best level at critical moments.
Four points summarize the truth of Zheng Qinwen's defeat:
- Huge contrast, frequent upsets: As the No. 5 seed, Zheng Qinwen, compared to Siegemund ranked 97th in the world, had an absolute advantage in terms of strength and ranking, but the result was unexpected.
- Mental imbalance, losing key points: Zheng Qinwen repeatedly experienced mental breakdowns in the match, especially not performing well in grasping key points, leading to consecutive losses in two sets.
- Referee's decision, adding insult to injury: After being penalized by the referee for serving overtime, Zheng Qinwen's emotions were greatly affected, and this decision undoubtedly became the catalyst for her loss.
- Frequent unforced errors: Zheng Qinwen made as many as 25 unforced errors in the match, which seriously affected her performance in two consecutive matches.
Zheng Qinwen's defeat undoubtedly put an imperfect end to her Australian Open journey. However, for her, this may be a valuable lesson. It is hoped that she can learn from this experience, adjust her mentality, start anew, and achieve better results in future competitions.