Zheng Qinwen draws inspiration from legendary Li Na as top seed Swiatek exits in shock

No one could have foreseen this incredible upset. The Australian Open third-round match seemed to be following the expected script when women's world No. 1 and tournament favorite Iga Swiatek claimed the first set against Czech teenager Linda Noskova.

However, undeterred by the setback, the fearless Noskova responded with composure, well aware of her own formidable power and shot-making prowess that could unsettle her higher-ranked opponent. As the match progressed, the 19-year-old settled into a groove, unleashing her strokes with increasing freedom and seizing control in the second and third sets.  

With an astonishing display of aggressiveness, Noskova unleashed an impressive tally of 35 winners, leaving the top-seeded Swiatek stunned and ultimately sealing an exceptional 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory on the iconic Rod Laver Arena.

The result not only ended Swiatek's impressive 18-match winning streak but also propelled Noskova into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the very first time in her promising career. Looking ahead, she is set to face Elina Svitolina on Monday, following the 19th seed's commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Victorija Golubic on Saturday night.  

"I'm speechless," said Noskova after her momentus win. "I knew it was going to be an amazing match with the world No.1 but I didn't really think it would end up like this. I'm just really glad to get through this round."

It also marked the earliest exit by a No. 1 seed at the Australian Open since 1979, when Virginia Ruzici suffered a defeat against Mary Sawyer in the first round. Notably, this is also the first time since the tournament adopted a 128-player draw format in 1988 that the top seed has failed to progress to the fourth round.

During the post-match press conference, Swiatek appeared somewhat bewildered, as if she was still grappling to make sense of the unexpected loss. "I felt like I had everything under control until she broke me in the second set," said Swiatek. "I had couple of chances to break her in the second set and I didn't use them...I just wasn't playing kind of with my intuition and naturally. I guess I'll have to work on stuff to feel more comfortable next year."

Swiatek's early departure from the tournament is part of a trend that saw other top seeds also fall in the early stages. Notably, third seed Elena Rybakina, fifth seed Jessica Pegula and sixth seed Ons Jabeur all suffered defeats. It leaves 12th seed Zheng Qinwen as the highest-ranked player in the top half of the draw. The Chinese player showcased her resilience in a hard-fought victory over compatriot Wang Yafan, prevailing with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8) triumph in an all-Chinese showdown.

Following Zheng's historic advancement to the fourth round, she received a delightful surprise visit from China's revered tennis icon Li Na. The former Australian Open champion made a surprise appearance during Zheng's TV interview, stunning the 21-year-old youngster before embracing her warmly. 

"I was super happy to meet her and have the chance to talk with her because I never talked with her in person. That was really special for me," beamed Zheng afterwards. "I think she's much more beautiful than she looks on TV. She said 'don't think too much, just keep it simple'. I think that's what I need to do right now."

Zheng, who confessed to watching the footage of Li's historic victory in the 2014 Melbourne final more than 10 times, is now gearing up to face French world No. 95 Oceane Dodin in the next round. A potential quarterfinal matchup awaits Zheng, with either Italian 26th seed Jasmine Paolini or world No. 75 Anna Kalinskaya vying for that spot.  

Taking her tennis idol's advice to heart, Zheng will undoubtedly draw strength from Li's guidance as she aims to emulate her hero's spirit and achieve success in the showpiece event.