A top tennis commentator has called for an Australian Open tradition to be scrapped after Zheng Qinwen was embroiled in brutal scenes following her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s singles final on Saturday night.
As TV viewers watched the two-time champion celebrate and watch replays of the match’s crucial points, Zheng was left to reflect on her defeat alone as she waited for a stage to be built for the trophy presentation.
Catherine Whitaker, host of The Tennis Podcast, saw what the Chinese underdog was going through and was completely unimpressed.
“Poor Zheng Qinwen, who had to sit with her face in her towel while they tore down a stage at Rod Laver Arena where the ceremony was being conducted,” she said.
‘All the other (grand) slams do this, except Wimbledon, which just does a carpet and a line-up with ball kids.
‘You don’t need a stage, boys.
The aftermath of her loss to Aryna Sabalenka (right) in the Open final was tough enough for Zheng Qinwen (left) without the build-up to the trophy ceremony making the injury worse
The Chinese star was clearly devastated as she was left to contemplate the biggest loss of her professional career alone as a makeshift stage was built at Rod Laver Arena.
‘It (the stage) was just a big “AO”. I know it’s our privilege to be in the stadium and you know, we don’t have all the slow-mos (slow motion replays) and the experts that people at home are watching during that period.
‘For us it’s even grimmer because we’re just sitting there looking at a devastated player on a chair, while a whole load of dignitaries stand off to the side and a bunch of handsome young men set up pieces of furniture, then crawl on top of the pieces. of furniture and start polishing.
“It looks kind of weird when you take yourself out of it.”
Whitaker’s co-host Matt Roberts chimed in on a “petition to stop that” as he called for the tradition to be dumped.
After the trophy ceremony was over, a shattered Zheng admitted she was not playing at full capacity, but vowed to return and try to go one better in Melbourne.
‘I didn’t try my best. That’s a shame for me, because I really want to show better than that.’
She complained about an early mistake, losing her opening serve, and then was unable to take advantage of three break points to put the set back on serve.
Leading tennis commentator Catherine Whitaker and her co-host Matt Roberts called on the Australian Open to follow Wimbledon’s lead and ax the stage in the future (pictured)
TV viewers couldn’t see Zheng endure her lonely aftermath of the match as the broadcast switched to Sabalenka’s overjoyed celebrations and replays of crucial parts of the match
“I think I’m getting off to a pretty slow start in this match,” Zheng said.
‘The difference is the start, I can’t hold the service game. Later, when I got the chance to break her 40 love and I can’t do it.
‘You know, that little moment makes the match so different.
“She is a very aggressive player and if you miss an opportunity it will happen just like today.”
Zheng’s consolation is a rise from 15th in the rankings to No. 7 in the world, a career-high payday of $1.725 million and an army of new fans.
Zheng reached her first-ever grand slam final, surpassing her previous record of a quarterfinal loss to Sabalenka at the US Open. She said the Australian Open had been a tournament to remember.
She topped Melbourne Park’s tally of aces, sending down 54 – exactly double the next best woman, who happened to be Sabalenka.
Zheng (pictured with Sabalenka) has vowed to return to Melbourne and go one step further after falling at the final hurdle
Zheng said she would reflect on her performance to try to do even better in the future.
“I really enjoyed playing this Australian Open,” she said.
‘That was a great memory for me and I’m sure there will be more and better in the future.
‘Maybe I need to work more on my tennis, work more on my mental side too, work more on myself to get through this moment.
‘Because if you lose, there has to be a reason why you lose, and we have to try to find out why.
“I think I can learn more from today’s loss, and then next time I hope to come back as a better tennis player and come back stronger.”