Chinese tennis star Qinwen Zheng got the best out of reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova as the 21-year-old beat the Czech Republican at the 2024 United Cup. Zheng beat Vondrousova 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 in their Group E clash in Perth, Australia on Saturday in 1 hour and 48 minutes.
The Chinese star who was named the most improved player of 2023 exhibited her skills at the top level as she met Vondrousova for the first time in her career. While Zheng earned praises for her outstanding performance, Vondrousova was thrashed left, right, and center for giving it away.
Many questioned how the Czech managed to beat Ons Jabeur at the 2023 Wimbledon final. A user was left perplexed and failed to comprehend how she won a Grand Slam title as Vondrousova has failed to dish out even a single performance of the same level ever since.
I don’t wanna be mean but like … how did she win Wimbledon in the end cuz I’ve seen nothing slam worthy since https://t.co/st1UtzO5yk
— Halep THEE dop£r (@Spllomi) December 30, 2023
Meanwhile, a few claimed that Vondrousova won not because she played well but because Jabeur faltered. X (formerly Twitter) was set ablaze with different sets of reactions. Check them out below.
Ons Jabeur gave it to her as a gift
— Olafòtó (@iamolafoto) December 30, 2023
Same goes with Emma. Have you seeen anything since lucky uso win
— Goatovic (@Big1ofTennis) December 30, 2023
It's the WTA, everyone gets a grand slam.
— Medi Fella (@MediCoeli) December 30, 2023
She didn’t win Ons just lost that match
— KING BARBARIAN (@writerboy242_) December 30, 2023
However, a few fans also came to Marketa Vondrousova’s defense claiming that the Czech ace is just a bit inconsistent.
It’s not as simple as Ons not showing up, and we must acknowledge that Maky did show up in the final. Marketa can handle a lot of the tricky things Ons throws at players anyway.
— nebby (@1gamesetmatch) December 31, 2023
She’s just a bit inconsistent, and probably feels more pressure now.
she really had 2 weeks of good and constant tennis.. and she was fighting for her life, running to every ball… that’s how
— olæ (@1gaclaytek) December 30, 2023
Sometimes it’s now the best player (or team) that wins a championship. It’s who is the hottest at that moment. Similar to Radacanu, Marketa had an Amazing 2 week run. Unlike Emma, Marketa has played well since winning. Emma is trash and can’t even stay in the court.
— Winston (@Winston0729) December 30, 2023
well she played Pegula QF, Svitolina SF, Jabeur F… probably the perfect 3 players you’d want to play at the end of a major because they’re all notorious for choking in those rounds
— nathália isabelle (@tennistea77) December 30, 2023
While Marketa Vondrousova faced the heat of the fans for not showing up against Qinwen Zheng, she also received support from the likes of Rennae Stubbs. Serena William’s former coach defended the Czech saying she beat everyone on her way to the Wimbledon title victory.
Stubbs also reasoned that Qinwen Zheng is not a rookie as the Chinese player possesses the capabilities to break into the top 10 really soon. The Australian coach did not look pleased with the user demeaning Vondrousova’s achievements.
Well, let me enlighten you! She beat EVERYONE she had to to win Wimbledon! U see how that works!? Also, Q is a VERY good player and without question a future top 10 player who may well win a slam in the coming years too. Got it!? Rennae Stubbs said.
Well let me enlighten you! She beat EVERYONE she had to to win Wimbledon! U see how that works!? Also Q is a VERY good player and without question a future top 10 player who may well win a slam in the coming years too. Got it!?
— Rennae Stubbs (@rennaestubbs) December 31, 2023
Notably, Marketa Vondrousova is currently ranked 7th in the world. While there is no denying that the Czech ace has been inconsistent with her performances since her Wimbledon title win, the 24-year-old has fared decently at a few tournaments. For example, she made it to the quarterfinals at the Cincinnati Masters and then also at the 2023 US Open.
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