Queen Wen leads the charge Down Under

With Queen Wen fired up to go a step better than last year, and a record number of her compatriots entering the main draw, Chinese tennis looks primed to start off the year with a bang at the Australian Open.

Spearheaded by the red-hot Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, a legion of Chinese players — 11 in total, including three men — have made it to the main draw of the season's maiden Slam, which swings into action with the first round on Sunday. It marks the biggest Chinese representation at any major ever, with fans eagerly anticipating big things Down Under.

After signing off a stratospheric 2024 season at a career-high world No 5 ranking, Zheng has returned to Melbourne Park with greater confidence, bolstered by her gold-laden Olympic campaign. Memories of that narrow defeat to current world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in last year's final will likely add some extra motivation in the bid to crack her major title drought, as if any were needed.

Despite skipping all her pre-AO warm-up tournaments due to an extended recovery period from the fatigue of last season, Zheng looked quite sharp and fresh in her first outing of 2025 on Thursday, as she dictated play to beat Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in straight sets in a charity match in front of the rousing Melbourne crowd at Rod Laver Arena.