Weekend Long Read: Is Tennis Phenom Zheng Qinwen the Next Li Na?

Editor’s note: On Jan. 27, Chinese tennis sensation Zheng Qinwen was defeated by Belarusian second seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open Women’s Singles final. With her appearance in the final, Zheng’s ranking has risen to seventh in the world, making her only the second Chinese woman after Li Na to break into the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) top 10.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Li’s victory in the Australian Open. In 2014, she became the first Asian player to win the women’s singles title at the tournament. Zheng, who was only 11 years old at the time, watched the final in front of the TV. Ten years later, not yet 22, Zheng herself appeared in the Australian Open final. Her success has made her one of the new generation of female role models in sports.