Zheng out to follow in footsteps of Chinese great Li Na

Having watched compatriot Li Na's historic Australian Open triumph "more than 10 times", an inspired Zheng Qinwen has fought her way into the fourth round for the first time.

Zheng, the 12th seed, outlasted Wang Yafan in an epic all-Chinese battle on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, winning 6-4 2-6 7-6 (10-8) after an 83-minute match tiebreaker.

Zheng Qinwen (left) and Wang Yafan.
Zheng Qinwen (left) overcame fellow Chinese Wang Yafan in the Australian Open third round.

Ten years ago, Li became the first Asian woman to win the Australian Open crown - adding it to her 2011 French Open title - with the now 41-year-old returning to Melbourne a decade on to compete in the Legends tournament.

Zheng, 21, said she clearly remembered Li's victory at Melbourne Park, when she beat Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 in the final.

"I was sitting there in front of TV and I watch from the beginning until the end," said Zheng, who reached the quarter-finals of the US Open last year. 

"That final, I've watched it more than 10 times so I have a lot of memories. 

"She's an unbelievable player - the first Asian woman who was the grand slam champion - how can you not remember that?"

Zheng will next face Oceane Dodin, who downed fellow French player Clara Burel 6-2 6-4.

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka booked her ticket to the fourth round with a straightforward 6-1 7-5 win over 11th seed Jelena Ostapenko.

Azarenka needed just 26 minutes to claim the first set but Ostapenko made her work to close out the match, with the second set taking 57 minutes.

In the process, the Belarusian ended Ostapenko's seven-match singles winning streak.

Azarenka will next play Ukraines's Dayana Yastremska, who continued her inspired run from qualifying to advance to the fourth round for the first time.

Victoria Azarenka
Two-time Open champion Victoria Azarenka scored a straight-sets win over Jelena Ostapenko.

Yastremska upset American 27th seed Emma Navarro 6-2 2-6 6-1 in the opening match of day seven.

The 23-year-old was joined soon after by Russian Anna Kalinskaya, who won a tough tussle with American Sloane Stephens 6-7 (8-10) 6-1 6-4.

Veteran Stephens, who was a Melbourne Park semi-finalist back in 2013 and won the US Open in 2017, called for some sushi and smoothies to be delivered to her on court mid-match.

But it didn't provide the energy boost she was looking for against the world No.75.

Before this year, 25-year-old Kalinskaya had never won a match at Melbourne Park.

She will next take on Jasmine Paolini after the Italian 26th seed ousted another Russian, Anna Blinkova, 7-6 (7-1) 6-4.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek was ousted by Czech teenager Linda Noskova in the night session on Rod Laver Arena in what was the biggest upset of the tournament.

In her first appearance at Melbourne Park, Noskova stunned Swiatek to book a fourth-round showdown against in-form Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who demolished Swiss Viktorija Golubic 6-2 6-3.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store