- Global green energy push likely to continue despite Trump climate retreat: UN
- Shooting, explosions in Jenin as Israel presses raid
- Spotlight on risk management as skiers tackle notorious Kitzbuehel downhill
- Rare wildlife species found in Cambodian national park
- EU Russia hawks back Trump call to boost defence spending
- Sinner races into semis as Swiatek closes on first Melbourne crown
- Syria's military hospital where detainees were tortured, not treated
- Prince Harry settles lawsuit against Murdoch's UK tabloids
- Sinner demolishes De Minaur to set up Melbourne semi with Shelton
- Sudan 'political' banknote switch causes cash crunch
- Malaysia's Anwar says don't single out China in sea tensions
- EU's top diplomat backs Trump call to boost defence spending
- Simmering anger as Turkey begins burying 76 fire victims
- Masa Son, Trump's Japanese buddy with the Midas Touch
- US govt workers in diversity jobs to be put on leave as programs ordered shut
- Shelton grinds past Sonego into Australian Open semi-final
- Borussia Dortmund sack coach Nuri Sahin after Champions League setback
- 'Did not push hard enough': Navalny lawyer speaks of regrets
- Bulgaria court ruling turns spotlight on gambling addiction
- Inoue focused on Korean with bright lights of Vegas on horizon
- Mauricio Funes: journalist turned El Salvador president
- Navarro urges rule change after double-bounce furore in Melbourne
- Lesotho's king pitches green energy to Davos elites
- Buttler rejects calls for England to boycott Afghanistan match
- Indonesia rescuers search for survivors as landslide kills 19
- Triple-doubles for Jokic and James fuel lopsided NBA wins
- Five things about the 2025 World Rally Championship
- 'Love for humanity': Low-crime Japan's unpaid parole officers
- Indonesia rescuers search for survivors as landslide kills at least 17
- S. Korea to overhaul some airports after Jeju Air crash
- Bloodied Welsford fights back from crash to win another Tour stage
- Swiatek sweeps into Melbourne semis, Sinner faces home test
- Rampant Swiatek sweeps into Australian Open semi-final with Keys
- Lanterns light up southern Chinese city ahead of Lunar New Year
- 'Worst ever' Man Utd turn to Europa League as saving grace
- Brazil saw 79% jump in area burned by fires in 2024: monitor
- Resilient Keys beats Svitolina to reach Australian Open semi-finals
- Most Asian markets rise after Trump AI pledge but China tariff woes return
- Djokovic mentally ready for Zverev but worried about creaking body
- As Trump takes aim at EVs, how far will rollback go?
- No home, no insurance: The double hit from Los Angeles fires
- Trump targets opponents, faces criticism from catherdral pulpit
- Relentless Swiatek, dizzy Sinner eye Australian Open semi-finals
- Colombian forces edge into guerrilla strongholds
- Panama complains to UN over Trump canal threat, starts audit
- Ichiro, the Japanese Hall of Famer who helped redefine baseball
- Ichiro becomes first Japanese elected to MLB Hall of Fame
- The Now Corporation (OTC:NWPN) Subsidiary, Green Rain Solar Inc., Explores Selling Development Rights for Solar Farm Project in Greece, NY
- Glenmorgan Investments Reopens Digital Asset Innovation Fund
- ZeroPath Corp. Launches Next-Generation Code Security Platform Powered by Artificial Intelligence
Stunned Zheng blames lack of warm-up for early Melbourne exit
Last year's beaten finalist Zheng Qinwen blamed the lack of a warm-up event and a serve clock violation for her shock Australian Open exit in straight sets to German veteran Laura Siegemund on Wednesday.
China's Olympic champion nicknamed "Queen Wen" gave an unusually flat performance as she bowed out in round two in Melbourne.
She became flustered when she fell foul of the 25-second timer at a crucial moment in the second set before losing 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 to the world number 97.
Fifth seed Zheng was playing just her second match of 2025, saying "issues" after the season-ending WTA Tour Finals had prevented her playing in any warm-ups.
"For me there was no chance to play a tournament before the Australian Open this year because there were some issues in my body I didn't solve yet," she told reporters.
She did not elaborate on the nature of the problem.
Zheng also admitted that the shot-clock kerfuffle had "distracted" her.
At 2-2, 15-30 in the second set, Zheng received a second time violation which cost her a first serve.
She had a lengthy argument with the chair umpire, complaining that she could not see the shot clock, to no avail.
"The clock was on the side, so I couldn't see it if I bounce the ball," explained Zheng.
"So I don't know if I'm late or I'm early.
"I was so surprised to get that second (violation). Obviously that one really distracted me from the match."
Zheng completely fluffed the subsequent second serve and then double-faulted on break point to hand a crucial 3-1 advantage to Siegemund.
It led to a stunning defeat for the 22-year-old, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2024, beating then number one Iga Swiatek on her way to winning Olympic gold in Paris and claiming three WTA titles.
Zheng ended the year at a career-high world number five after claiming the Pan Pacific Open title in Tokyo.
She reached the championship match at the WTA Tour Finals in Riyadh, where she was edged only in a final-set tiebreak by Coco Gauff.
"I feel maybe today is not my day," said Zheng. "That's all I can say. It's tennis.".
A.Magalhes--PC