Racist chants allegedly directed at Zheng Qinwen during US Open Match
WTATuesday, 03 September 2024 at 19:30
Zheng
Qinwen apparently received racist chants from a fan at the US Open. The 21-year-old player was reportedly a victim of racist abuse in her
victory over Donna Vekic in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
The Chinese player has 16 wins in her last 17 matches,
including the Olympic Games, where she won the gold medal. The match was marked
by its late finish at 2:15 am, the latest finish for a women's match in US Open
history.
Racist incident at US Open?
The world No. 7 continues her great form in Flushing Meadows
and has reached the quarterfinals of the tournament for the second consecutive
year. Zheng has been one of the most consistent players recently and is
preparing to face world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka on the night of Tuesday,
September 3rd.
Before that, she had to overcome a tough challenge against
Vekic, whom she had already beaten in the Olympic final, winning again this
time 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2.
However, Zheng found herself embroiled in controversy after
a racial slur was picked up by the court microphones, and the subsequent
footage accumulated over 1.65 million views on the Chinese social network Weibo
before being deleted.
The hashtag “Zheng Qinwen fought back racism” also became
one of the most popular trends among users. Supposedly, the racist chant was
heard when Zheng was trailing 2-0 in the second set, and she looked towards the
stands mouthing “I will beat you.”
The footage appeared to show someone chanting “yellow
banana, yellow” while Zheng was preparing to serve. Additionally, the cameras
captured the reaction of her Spanish coach, Pere Riba.
Nevertheless, the Chinese player did not mention the racist
chants after the match. She will seek to continue advancing in the tournament
tonight against Sabalenka, aiming for her second Grand Slam semifinal and
looking for revenge against the Belarusian, who defeated her in the Australian
Open final earlier this year.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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