Hometown favorite Qinwen Zheng secured a hard-fought victory against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez at the Wuhan Open, advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time. However, the match wasn’t without controversy, as a heated exchange between the two players sparked debate across social media. Zheng, who had previously lost to Fernandez in their last two meetings, including at this year’s Qatar Open, won 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. Despite her impressive performance, it was an on-court drama that stole the spotlight.
The incident occurred during a crucial point in the second set, when Zheng made a gesture that many believe unsettled Fernandez. Tennis podcaster Myles David tweeted about the situation, highlighting how Fernandez appeared to lose focus after the exchange. Responding to a user on X (formerly Twitter) who suggested that Zheng had said something to Fernandez’s player box, David noted that this seemed to throw Fernandez off her game. “Fernandez was brilliant (and in control) up until that point, but not quite the same player after,” the tweet read.
David further explained that Fernandez’s father, who is known for being vocal during her matches, might have said something that upset Zheng. “The commentator mentioned that Fernandez’s dad can be ‘quite vocal,’ so maybe Zheng was replying to something directed at her,” he tweeted. During the exchange, Fernandez walked closer to the net to confront Zheng about her remarks, and words were exchanged between the players and the chair umpire. After the incident, Fernandez double-faulted, and her level dropped, allowing Zheng to take control of the match. Fernandez only won two more games after the exchange.
Zheng later defended her actions, stating that she had been distracted by Fernandez’s father’s cheering. In a post-match interview, Zheng explained, “I was distracted in the first set by what her dad was saying before I returned serve. I lost a game because of it. After a while, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and asked him, ‘Do you have to talk before I start to return?’” Despite the emotional outburst, Zheng insisted she was not disrespectful. “I didn’t say anything bad, just what I was feeling,” she said.
This isn’t the first time Zheng has found herself in the middle of controversy. Earlier this year, Emma Navarro accused her of disrespect during the US Open semifinals, and in a separate incident, Zheng notably avoided a handshake with Aryna Sabalenka after losing their quarterfinal match.
As for the latest incident, Zheng expressed no regrets, and her emotional release seemed to propel her to victory. However, the exchange with Fernandez has sparked further discussions about sportsmanship and how off-court distractions can impact match outcomes.
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