Could Wang Qiang be the next Li Na? Chinese star makes presence felt at French Open as she blasts into third round
The 26-year-old is making a fiery start at Roland Garros years after her family made the sacrifice to send her to Japan for training
China’s Wang Qiang is turning heads and making a name for herself after reaching the third round of a grand slam event for the first time at the French Open and her early success is already drawing comparisons with retired compatriot Li Na, who ruled Roland Garros in 2011.
A first-round victory against American great Venus Williams was a huge morale booster but when the 26-year-old Tianjin native crushed volatile Petra Martic, of Croatia, 6-1, 6-1 in the second round, she was spoken about in the same breath as China’s greatest tennis player, who went on to win her second grand slam title at the 2014 Australian Open.
While Martic couldn’t get her game going, throwing her racquet in disgust, Wang was a picture of calmness and focus as she continued to smack forehand winners past her Croatian opponent.
“My coach is telling me to do that more,” said Wang, whose calm demeanour is belied by her intensive focus on court. Chinese reporters have praised her diligence on court and her humble, down-to-earth attitude with media and fans. She’s also wowing fans with her impressive serve as well.
Wang’s path to success at the French Open began at age four when she took the court with older players at a tennis centre in Tianjin, China.
One of those girls, Zhang Shuai, then eight-years-old, would become one of China’s top players, currently ranked 27th in the world.
