(Xinhua) China's tennis sensation Zheng Qinwen cruised past Colombia's Emiliana Arango 6-3, 6-2 in the women's singles second round of the 2025 China Open on Saturday.  

Zheng advanced after a first-round bye, marking her first official match since undergoing surgery on her right elbow in July.  

Olympic champion Zheng, 22, withdrew from tournaments including the US Open and the Billie Jean King Cup finals following her surgery, before making her comeback at the China Open.

The 7th seed Zheng opened her account with an ace and took the first set 6-3. The home favorite then dominated the second set, leaving Arango with few chances, and sealed the victory 6-2.  

"I have recovered almost 80 percent, but the 20 percent left would be the most difficult part," Zheng said.

(Xinhua) FIFA on Thursday unveiled three official mascots for the 2026 World Cup - "Maple" the Moose from Canada, "Zayu" the Jaguar from Mexico and "Clutch" the Bald Eagle from the United States, to represent the first edition of the tournament to be jointly hosted by three nations.  

"Maple", "Zayu" and "Clutch" were introduced as symbols of unity, diversity and the shared passion for football.

(Xinhua) Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai upset compatriot Wang Xinyu in a highly anticipated all-Chinese night clash, as home hopes in the men's singles were dashed with both Buyunchaokete and Shang Juncheng falling in the first round of the China Open on Friday.  

Zhang, 36, prevailed 6-4, 6-2 on the Diamond Court to claim her first win over Wang in four meetings. Ranked outside the top 100 and competing on a wildcard, Zhang played the steadier tennis in the key moments.

(Xinhua) Third seed Alex de Minaur of Australia eased into the second round of the China Open with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over China's Bu Yunchaokete on Friday at the Diamond Court of the National Tennis Center.  

De Minaur seized the opening set after an early break in the fifth game. The world No. 8 held firm under pressure in the 10th, blasting an ace at 30-all and drawing an error from Bu on set point to close it out 6-4.

(Xinhua) The 2025 China Open men's singles main draw began on Thursday, with top seed Jannik Sinner cruising past former US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-2 to reach the round of 16.  

Sinner took control early, breaking twice in the first set with sharp returns and dominant baseline play. In the second set, he surged into a 5-1 lead and closed out the match without difficulty.  

"I mean, it's always difficult. His peak is very, very high.

(Xinhua) China's Zhang Zhizhen lost 6-4, 6-2 to France's Terence Atmane in the China Open men's singles first round on the Lotus Court on Thursday.  

The opening set went on serve for the first nine games before world No. 68 Atmane broke in the 10th with a forehand winner. In the second set, the Frenchman capitalized on Zhang's double fault to break in the fourth game, added another break in the eighth, and closed out the match in 71 minutes.

(China Daily) China claimed two gold medals in the lightweight double sculls events at the 2025 World Rowing Championships on Thursday in Shanghai's Qingpu district.  

The women's lightweight double sculls team, consisting of Zou Jiaqi and Fu Ling, won in a closely contested race, while Li Yawei and Sun Man secured gold in the men's event.  

For Fu, who made her debut at the world championships, the victory was particularly meaningful. "I'm overwhelmed with joy.

(Xinhua) Alexandre Sybillain, a French amateur triathlete and founder of a triathlon training center in Shanghai, has been a pioneer in promoting the sport in China and has witnessed its expanding opportunities.  

Sybillain has competed in triathlons for a decade, drawn to the sport as a complete full-body workout. "No one is naturally strong in all three disciplines. You might be a good runner but a weak swimmer -- so you have to work on your limitations," he said.

(Xinhua) The women's singles main draw of the 2025 China Open kicked off on Wednesday, with 36-year-old Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai rallying past Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the second round.  

Zakharova started strong and took the opening set, but Zhang responded with three breaks in the second set to level the match. In the decider, Zhang missed three match points but eventually sealed the victory.

(China Daily) A self-confessed quick-tempered competitor, Zheng Qinwen has learned the hard way that to realize her dreams of winning a major faster, she has to slow things down and be more mindful of the process.  

With her highly anticipated return from her July elbow surgery just around the corner, the reigning Olympic champion remains unsure about how ready she will be when her second-round action at the China Open swings off, possibly, on Saturday.
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