Zheng stuns Swiatek to progress to final – Olympic women's singles tennis semi-finals recap

She’s done it! Zheng Qinwen causes a major upset by beating Iga Swiatek in two sets. The Chinese player is now guaranteed a medal and will be going for gold in the final, her opponent to be decided between Anna Karolina Schmiedlova and Donna Vekic later tonight.

Swiatek didn’t turn up today at her beloved Roland Garros – 36 unforced errors in the match – and eventually had to surrender to Zheng’s superior consistency. Still, she has a chance for a medal and will face the loser of the Schmiedlova versus Vekic match for bronze.

Gutsy from Swiatek, but Zheng counters. Still, Swiatek achieves a break point with a great return, but Zhen defends it by forcing Swiatek close to the net – it’s 40-40.

Zheng takes the advantage and serves for the match for the first time. Great first serve, miss from Swiatek and there it is for Zheng.

Great defence from Zheng who works the base line. Swiatek keeps going for the lines but, unfortunately, doesn’t consistently hit the margins, the backhand especially a weakness. It’s a double break point for Zheng, but Swiatek defends the first with a great first serve but gives the second away with a miss.

Break for Zheng and she is now only one game away from the win.

More urgency from Swiatek now but Zheng manages to counter. She achieves a game point by reading the play well and catching Swiatek out against her direction of movement. A big miss from Swiatek at the base line follows and it’s all square again.

Excellent first serves from Swiatek earn her the 30-0, but she follows it up with a double fault and an easy miss from the base line – clever play from Zheng there who hoists it up. A net cord regains Swiatek the lead and she brings it home.

Swiatek keeps forcing Zheng’s forehand and manages to catch her out a couple of times. A change of direction on the serve, playing into Swiantek’s forehand, results in a miss from the Pole and a game point for Zheng. Swiatek defends with a backhand long line and it’s 40-40. The game goes back and forth, both playing with a lot of urgency (special mention to an excellent winner to the outside from Swiatek), until Zheng finally brings an advantage home through an ace.

Brutal hitting from Zheng but well controlled and she achieves a double break point. Long rally and Swiatek hits the net on her backhand – second re-break for Zheng and Swiatek now looks in serious trouble.

Zheng takes the 0-30 lead, but Swiatek answers with an outstanding return. Zheng earns a game point though through an ace and brings it home through another excellent serve down the middle that Swiatek can’t answer.

Strange error from Swiatek to start the game, she looks a bit perplexed and misses again in the subsequent rally. She hits the net again on her forehand and it’s a triple break point for Zheng. Swiatek defends the first with an excellent serve through the middle that Zheng just can’t reach, but she follows it up with a double fault that gifts Zheng the re-break.

Long rallies and Swiatek has the upper hand to achieve a triple break point. She gets it at the first time of asking through a double fault – double break for her.

‘Come on!,’ Swiatek shouts as she makes it 30-0. A double fault follows, but Swiatek achieves a double game point through a narrow miss from Zheng. She gives the first one away with a long miss on the cross, but a subsequent out hit from Zheng earns Swiatek the game.

Zheng is struggling to get into the rallies the way she did in the first set.

Zheng gives Swiatek a double break point through a forehand long line miss and Swiatek makes it as she rises to the challenge at the net and slams a superb forehand winner down the line behind Zheng – early break for the world number one.

Nice first point for Swiatek, but another miss on the forehand follows. Long rally and Swiatek smashes a drive volley into the net but she follows it up with a strong serve through the middle that Zheng can’t answer. Swiatek achieves a game point and makes it with an ace.

It’s not happening for Swiatek who is missing routine shots here, especially on her forehand. Zheng is throwing everything at her and achieves a double set point. She makes at the first time of asking as Swiatek can’t answer her strong serve through the middle.

Excellent first set from the Chinese player while Swiatek will need to reset and step things up.

Swiatek looks to be overforcing it now and can’t get the right balance. Triple break point for Zheng – Swiatek defends the first but hits the net on the second with her forehand. Double break for Zheng and the scoreboard is looking very much in her favour now.

Double fault from Zheng, but she follows it up with an excellent serve that Swiatek can’t answer. Very aggressive game from Zheng whose movements are looking super strong and she gets an unforced error out of Swiantek that earns her a double game point. She makes it with a great forehand long line.

Three errors in a row from Swiatek on the backhand side and it’s a triple break point for Zheng. Swiatek defends the first and the second but has to go via second serve on the third, allows Zheng into the rally and hits the net – Zheng gets the break.

Long rallies and Swiatek makes the first two points with a whipping forehand. A miss from Zheng gives Swiatek a triple break point and she makes it at the first time of asking – re-break and that’s the best Swiantek has looked all game.

Misses by quite some distance from both players to make it 15-15. Swiatek hits the net with her forehand before Zheng picks an excellent spot to catch her opponent out. Zheng has a double break point, but Swiatek is too good on the first. However, a double fault from Swiatek gifts the game to Zheng – break!

Zheng smashes a volley into the net but follows it up with a nice return and takes the lead with the first ace of the game. Forehand error from Swiatek and it’s a double game point for Zheng.

Swiatek defends the first, but Zheng makes it at the second time of asking.

Swiatek is sharp for the first point at the net but follows it up with a double fault and a hit to the net. She changes her tactics and goes closer to the net – it works for her and it’s 30-30. Swiatek achieves a game point but Zheng defends it by forcing Swiatek to a backhand at full stretch and then catches her out against her direction of movement.

Miss from Swiatek – by some distance as well – and it’s an early break point for Zheng. Swiatek defends though with neat ball placement. She takes the advantage herself and brings her serve home.

Bonjour and thank you for joining our live text coverage of the women’s individual semi-final fixture between Iga Swiatek and Zheng Qinwen at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The match is scheduled to get underway at 11am UK time on Court Philippe-Chatrier – With a place in the final at stake, who will come out on top? We’re about to find out!

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