Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 30, 2024
If you fail to convert a match point and end up losing in the Olympics, there will be frustration. American Emma Navarro His anger was not felt after the fall of China Zheng Qinwen on Tuesday in Paris, 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-1.
The weather in Paris wasn’t the only thing boiling over on Tuesday…
“I just told him I don’t respect him as an opponent,” Navarro said when asked what he said when the two threw each other into the net after the game, according to AFP. “I think he’s doing things in a very good way. It creates a very unfriendly room, so it’s difficult to face an opponent like that, who I really don’t respect.
The unexpected drama of the day came after the incredible Zheng-Navarro fight.
Qinwen won after saving a match point. The handshake was intense and explained by both players behind the names.
Navarro. “I just told him I don’t respect him as a competitor. I think he’s going… pic.twitter.com/T6jYQFRaYp
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 30, 2024
Navarro regained a 5-3 lead in the second set of a wild encounter that lasted three hours and 12 minutes. The American had his match point with Zheng playing at 3-5, ad.
Zheng won 11 of the last 13 points and cruised through the decider to book a quarterfinal clash with Angelique Kerber.
“Kudos to him, he played great tennis there at the end. He played better than me, so congratulations,” added Navarro.
Zheng said he is ready to be criticized.
“He told me that he doesn’t know how I have so many fans,” said the Chinese player from sixth place.
“It seems that he is not happy with the way I behave towards him, if he is not happy with my behavior he can come and tell me, I would like to fix it so that I can be a better player and a better person.
“I’m glad you told me that. I won’t consider it an attack because you lost the game.”
