Zheng Qinwen Advances at Australian Open

Fifth-seeded Zheng Qinwen overcame a challenging first round at the Australian Open, defeating Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni 7-6 (3), 6-1 under the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena amid thunderstorms outside. Zheng, who recently won Olympic gold and reached the final last year, faced pressure early on, saving three set points in the first set before securing it in a tiebreak. Although she exhibited some rustiness, particularly after not playing any warm-up matches, Zheng regained her momentum in the second set, breaking Todoni early and maintaining control to finish the match in just under two hours. The match was part of a weather-affected opening day, which saw play suspended on outside courts due to heavy rain. Zheng expressed gratitude for the support from fans and acknowledged the increasing pressure on her as a top player. She will face either Laura Siegemund or Hailey Baptiste in the second round.