Australian Open, day 4: ‘not my day’ says Zheng Qinwen after shock loss, Naomi Osaka wins
Last year’s beaten finalist blames lack of warm-up for early Melbourne exit, while defending champion Aryna Sabalenka moves into third round
China’s Zheng Qinwen said it “was not my day” and blamed the lack of a warm-up event and a serve clock violation after she crashed out of the Australian Open on Wednesday, losing in straight sets to German Laura Siegemund in the biggest shock so far at the year’s first grand slam.
In a later match, former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka fought back from a set down to reach the third round of a grand slam for the first time since the birth of her daughter in 2023, and gaining a “little revenge” for defeat at the US Open.
The Japanese star, who won in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, dropped the first set against 20th seed Karolina Muchova before winning 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Also, a relentless Carlos Alcaraz charged into the third round with a 6-0 6-1 6-4 rout of Japan’s Yoshito Nishioka, continuing his domination of left-handers at Grand Slams.
In the day’s opening match, however, Olympic champion Zheng looked out of sorts on John Cain Arena, as Siegemund came out swinging in the 7-6, 6-3 victory.
She became flustered when she fell foul of the 25-second timer at a crucial moment in the second set before losing to the world number 97, who extinguished Zheng’s bid to emulate compatriot Li Na’s 2014 triumph in Australia.
