Zheng feeling the love in Paris but wary of ‘hungry’ Mboko

By AFP
May 29, 2025
Chinas Gold medallist, Zheng Qinwen poses with her medal on the podium at the presentation ceremony for the womens singles tennis event on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on August 3, 2024. — AFP
China's Gold medallist, Zheng Qinwen poses with her medal on the podium at the presentation ceremony for the women's singles tennis event on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Stadium during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on August 3, 2024. — AFP 

PARIS: China’s Zheng Qinwen said Wednesday she was feeling the love of the Paris crowd where she won Olympic gold last year but is wary of Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko who now awaits in the third round of the French Open.

The 22-year-old Zheng dispatched Colombia’s Emiliana Arango 6-2, 6-3 in the second round with 18-year-old Mboko easing past Germany’s Eva Lys 6-4, 6-4 in the French capital.

The Chinese eighth seed has won eight straight matches on the red clay of Roland Garros after her run to Olympic gold last year.

“Of course after the Olympic Games, there is more French fans they know about me. If I don’t play with a French player, of course they’re going to support me,” Zheng told journalists.

“I’m happy to get liked by the crowd, because always when the crowd is with you, of course you feel more energy, you can get more inspired from the crowd. You can get more motivation from them.”