Mboko reaching the final has led media to suggest Zheng Qinwen should feel some urgency, while French media claim the WTA youngsters are not intimidated by her.

After Canadian Mboko crushed former French Open champion Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 to reach her second WTA 1000 final, she not only will enter the top ten in the world rankings for the first time next week but also becomes the fourth Canadian female player in tennis history to do so. Even more astonishing, this young player was ranked only 337th at the start of 2025 and has made a triple leap from qualifier to elite within just 13 months.

However, while Mboko’s rapid rise has amazed many, it has also sparked concerns domestically. Since China’s top player Zheng Qinwen was defeated in a tough three-set match by Rybakina earlier, missing the quarterfinals, combined with the surge of new generation players, the public has begun to reassess Zheng’s competitive standing among young talents.

Some domestic media commentators have pointed out that although Zheng Qinwen’s world ranking among players under 24 is still relatively high, in terms of “hard achievements,” she has fallen behind her peers and even younger opponents.

A related comment stated, “In the women’s tennis world rankings, Zheng Qinwen ranks eighth among all players under 24. What gives her a sense of urgency is that among those under-24 players ranked higher than her, three—Gauff, Andreescu, and Mboko—have already won WTA 1000 singles titles, while Zheng’s best result in 1000 events is only a singles final. This shows how fierce the competition in women’s tennis is. It’s like rowing upstream; if you don’t advance, you fall behind.”

While domestic media perceive a sense of crisis, European outlets analyze Zheng Qinwen’s delicate situation with sharper insight.

Recently, on a French tennis program, the host discussed a phenomenon: on the current WTA tour, nearly all top-ranked players treat defeating Zheng Qinwen as a “key objective.”

The program mentioned that Rybakina indeed showed her best form of the season in her match against China’s top player, but after winning that tough battle, she “casually” lost to Mboko in the following quarterfinal. This stark contrast in performance is interpreted as a subtle psychological game.

The analysis suggested this reflects Zheng Qinwen’s highly “contrasting” status in tennis: though she has yet to win a Grand Slam or even a 1000-level title, Zheng’s huge influence from her 2024 Olympic gold medal has already elevated her commercial value to a “breakthrough” level.

According to Forbes’ annual earnings list for female athletes, Zheng Qinwen’s 2025 income is approximately $22.6 million, ranking fifth globally, only behind Gauff, Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gu Ailing. Meanwhile, the new Australian Open champion Rybakina’s annual earnings ($12.5 million) are just half of Zheng’s.

“Which of these players would be willing to accept that?” French media commented. “So you see, whenever they face Zheng Qinwen, these top seeds have to give their all to win, to prove to sponsors that they are stronger than Zheng.”

This phenomenon has also sparked intense debate among domestic fans. Following the Doha tournament, discussions about whether Zheng Qinwen is overrated and if her commercial value matches her competitive results quickly heated up.

Some netizens see this as a natural part of growth. One commented, “To wear the crown, you must bear its weight. Since she enjoys top star commercial treatment, she must endure the world’s attempts to beat her. Qinwen is now the ‘walking target’ of the WTA, which is both an honor and a challenge.”

However, others expressed concern for the future: “Watching Mboko and Andreescu play, then looking at Qinwen, it’s a bit worrying. There’s no clear technical improvement, and her movement hasn’t fully recovered. How long can she benefit from the Olympic gold? If she never wins a Grand Slam or 1000 event, how long can her current commercial value last?”

Some fans defended Zheng: “The value of an Olympic gold medal cannot be measured simply by 1000-level titles; it is the highest honor for bringing glory to the country. And how old is Qinwen? Give her time—who says she can’t win a Grand Slam in the future? Her commercial value reflects her charm. If rivals envy her, let them win on court and see who smiles last.”

As Mboko and others stir up waves of youthful energy, the Chinese team represented by Zheng Qinwen undoubtedly faces accelerating generational change. For Qinwen, the defeat in Doha may be just a setback in a long season, but the quickening footsteps behind her already remind her that in the fiercely competitive women’s tennis world, only constant running can hold the ground.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Lu Xiaotian)