Chinese fans rue ‘sore loser’ Zheng Qinwen’s Wimbledon exit, query her attitude

Chinese tennis fans have made clear their disappointment after Zheng Qinwen crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round for the third straight year.

The tournament’s fifth seed was beaten 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 by world No 81 Katerina Siniakova late on Tuesday – the second time in three years the Czech had knocked Zheng out in the opening round of the grass grand slam.

Afterwards, many on Chinese social media rounded on the 22-year-old, questioning whether she truly belonged among the world’s best.

“I feel like she thinks she really is a queen,” one user said. “Her opponent didn’t win because she played well; it was because [Zheng] didn’t play well. She doesn’t have the power of a queen, so she needs to stop acting like one.”

One popular comment on Weibo said: “Going out in the first round at Wimbledon three times in a row – not many people can say that.”

Another person joked: “That sore loser expression again”, alongside a screenshot of Zheng walking away after her handshake with Siniakova – a reference to previous stories about the Chinese player’s cold demeanour.