Zheng pays tribute to Chinese cartoon after beating Bouzkova
Tennis star Zheng Qinwen advanced in the China Open after defeating Marie Bouzkova in a three-set match. Following her win, she clarified that her celebratory pose was a tribute to a Chinese animated series from her childhood rather than a reference to Cristiano Ronaldo.
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The intersection of sports, pop culture, and national identity highlights the personal narratives of rising global athletes.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images Zheng Qinwen has made a habit of taking the long route through Beijing.
On Monday, she came through another three-setter, beating No. 18 seed Marie Bouzkova 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-5 for her third consecutive deciding-set win of the week. Dating back to the US Open, eight of Zheng’s past nine have gone the distance. She has won seven of them.
After Bouzkova's backhand sailed wide on Zheng's second match point, the pumped-up home favorite belted out a "Let's go" and did a superhero-like pose for the fans.
After the match, there was some speculation that Zheng's pose was in reference to soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, or perhaps the Japanese series "Sailer Moon."
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