Olympics - Tennis

Favorite Swiatek sensationally out in the semifinals

Iga Swiatek(Bild: AFP)

There will be a surprise winner in tennis at the Summer Olympics in Paris: Iga Swiatek, the absolute top favorite and number 1 in the world, surprisingly had to succumb to the Chinese number 6 seed Zheng Qinwen 2:6, 5:7 in the semi-finals on Thursday! Anna Karolina Schmiedlova and Donna Vekic will meet in the second semi-final.

Swiatek thus lost for the first time since 2021 at Roland Garros; she had been the overwhelming favorite for Olympic gold after three French Open victories en suite. She had recently won 25 matches en suite in the west of Paris.

Zheng in turn became the first Chinese player (women and men) to reach the final of an Olympic singles tournament. The best Chinese player to date was Li Na, who finished fourth at the 2008 Beijing Games.

This year's Australian Open finalist Zheng didn't even have to show her best tennis on the day to eliminate a weak Swiatek, who committed 36 unforced errors.

However, the Polish player still has the chance to go home with a medal in the battle for bronze against the loser of the second semi-final.