Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen, Olympic champion in Paris, has rapidly become a national hero, a testament to the immense sacrifices her parents

Zheng Qinwen hits a return during the women's singles second round match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia at 2024 China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

China's tennis star Zheng Qinwen eases past through 71st-ranked Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia with 6-1, 6-1 in 75 minutes in the women's second round at the China Open in Beijing on

Olympic champion and hometown hero Zheng Qinwen thrilled a packed house at the China Open on Saturday to join top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round in Beijing. Sabalenka laboured in the first set before defeating tricky Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6-4, 6-1 in her first match since winning the US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus returns a shot during the women's singles second round match against Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand at 2024 China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2024. [Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin]

Sabalenka, 26, who took the women's singles title in both the Australian Open and US Open this year, sealed a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand. Zheng Qinwen celebrates after winning the women's singles second round match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia at 2024 China Open tennis tournament in Beijing,

Olympic champion and hometown hero Zheng Qinwen thrilled a packed house at the China Open on Saturday to join top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the third round in Beijing.