Zheng stuns Rio champ
Print Edition
MONICA Puig, whose Olympic tennis triumph in Rio de Janeiro gave Puerto Rico its first ever Games gold, was unceremoniously bundled out of the US Open on Monday by China’s Zheng Saisai.
Zheng beat the 32nd-seeded Puerto Rican 6-4, 6-2 to book a second-round date with Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine.
Puig, 22, admitted she had a lot to learn about coping with success and with her sharp rise up the rankings this year which saw her seeded for the first time at a grand slam at No. 32.
“It’s always a little bit tough, especially coming off winning the Olympic gold medal. A lot of pressure, a lot of expectation, but I can always continue to learn,” said Puig.
“That’s what I’m going to try and do. All credit to her, though. She played well. But I’m still learning. I’m still growing. Trying to find the positives out of everything.”
She noted that Angelique Kerber, the player she beat in the gold-medal match, was able to come right back from a draining run in Rio to reach the final at Cincinnati. Germany’s Kerber, in contrast, is 28, and an Australian Open champ and Wimbledon runner-up this year.
“She’s been there,” Puig said. “She knows what it’s like. She knows she’s No. 2 in the world. She’s tested the waters out a little bit.
“I’m brand new to this.”
Zheng, also 22, upset Agnieszka Radwanska at the Olympics. She’ll be seeking to reach the third round at a grand slam for the first time when she faces 59th-ranked Bondarenko.
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