The Japan Times - 'Queen Wen' deposed in huge shock at Australian Open

The normally ice cool Olympic champion "Queen Wen" got hot under the collar as she was sent packing 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 by the world number 97.

Veteran Siegemund, who will turn 37 in March, is the second oldest player in the women's draw in Melbourne.

Playing in her 27th Grand Slam, she rolled back the years against the 22-year-old fifth seed on John Cain Arena.

"I knew I just had to play more than my best tennis. I had nothing to lose so I just told myself to swing free," said the German.

"She's an amazing player, one of the best players right now. But I know I can play well and I wanted to show that to myself and make it a tough fight."

Zheng was put under pressure early as Siegemund went toe-to-toe from the baseline with the Chinese player, who seemed flat and devoid of rhythm.

"In the first set I feel I didn't perform good enough. At the same time, I felt she's playing really good today," a downcast Zheng, beaten in last year's final by Aryna Sabalenka, told reporters.

"Yeah, it's tennis. Nothing more."

Siegemund had last registered a win over a top-10 player nearly three years ago but was not overawed by Zheng's renowned serve, firing 11 return winners in the first set alone.

At 4-4 Siegemund fashioned two break points after Zheng was given a time violation.

Zheng saved the first but hit wide off the second, faltering under the weight of the German's relentless groundstrokes.

- Mind frazzled -

Feeling the tension of serving for the set, however, Siegemund's dynamic footwork deserted her, enabling Zheng to break back.

The tiebreak went with serve until Siegemund went 6-3 ahead with a double mini-break and converted on her first set point.

Siegemund was now playing almost flawlessly and broke Zheng's serve to take a 2-0 lead in the second set.

Zheng looked almost beaten but benefited from two outrageous pieces of luck to break back.

First a net cord dropped in for a winner and then a desperate swing at a wide serve went around the net post and somehow grazed the sideline.

Zheng was upset by her second time violation in the next service game, which cost her a first serve at 15-30.

She complained at length to the umpire that she could not see the shot clock, but to no avail and she then lost her cool.

"The clock was on the side, so I couldn't see it if I bounce the ball," explained Zheng. "So I don't know if I'm late or I'm early.

"I was so surprised to get that second (violation). Obviously that one really distracted me from the match."

Zheng's mind was frazzled as she completely fluffed the second serve and then double-faulted on break point to hand a crucial 3-1 advantage to Siegemund.

Siegemund served out for a famous win and will play the winner of the all-Russian clash between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Anastasia Potapova.

H.Nakamura--JT