Qinwen Zheng shows poor sportsmanship at the Wuhan Open

There were serious arguments between Qinwen Zheng and Emma Navarro during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Many fans sided with Zheng after Navarro said she “didn’t respect” her as a competitor.

However, Zheng continued to play the role of villain on the WTA tour. Icy handshakes and shouting at spectators in attendance have become the norm.

Zheng’s questionable sportsmanship was on full display during the Wuhan Open. First, Zheng barked across the pitch at Leylah Fernandez and her corner in the round of 16.

Then, during her final bout against Aryna Sabalenka, Zheng yelled at the linesman, who had done nothing wrong. Even the TV announcers admitted that the linesman was doing his job.

Although the crowd was full of fans, the Chinese tennis star received boos from fans. Of course, as the commentators pointed out, Zheng’s behavior could be excused by the fact that he was in the heat of the moment during a finals match.

Finally, Sabalenka defeated Zheng in three sets: 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Sabalenka secured her third consecutive Wuhan Open championship and Zheng barely had time to congratulate her opponent.

Tennis fans on social media had fun breaking down the short video of Sabalenka and Zheng’s handshake at the net. Zheng quickly shook Sabalenka’s hand, who could barely contain her smile during the awkward exchange.

There are always two sides to every story, but a pattern of behavior begins to emerge with Zheng. The 22-year-old has the potential to win many titles and play the role of heel on the WTA tour.

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