Zheng Qinwen plays a backhand against Anca Todoni in their women's singles first-round match at the Australian Open on January 12, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: VCG

China's tennis ace Zheng Qinwen survived a first-set scare at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday, defeating qualifier Anca Todoni of Romania 7-6 (3), 6-1 to qualify for the second round.

The women's fifth seed, who did not play any competitive match in the buildup to the Australian Open, said it was not an easy match.

"The first match is never easy," Zheng told the crowd after the match. "Sometimes pressure is a good thing because pressure can be turned into motivation."

Zheng, 22, who made herself a household name in China after winning the Olympic women's singles gold medal in Paris, could take on world 

No.1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the quarterfinals, a rematch of 2024's Australian Open final.

"If you want to become a champion, you need to defeat all your opponents. I hope I can meet her and beat her," Zheng was quoted as saying by the People's Daily when referring to a potential quarterfinal match against Sabalenka.

Zheng, a finalist in WTA's year-end championship, is bidding to become the second Chinese player after Li Na to win a Grand Slam singles crown.

"I love challenges. It's precisely because of these powerful opponents that I'm full of motivation during training," Zheng said.

During Sunday's match, Zheng won 83 percent of first serves, helped by eight aces, which contributed to a winner count of 29, nine more than her opponent.

In the first set, Zheng once had four set-points when leading 5-3, and she even took a 40-0 lead in her serve-for-the-match game. However, in this crucial game, she lost concentration.

"I'd give this match a 70 out of 100. If I had won the first set when I was leading 5-3, I'd rate it 90," Zheng recalled.

"I thought I could win the first set after getting such a lead, but perhaps it was precisely this mind-set that made me less focused on each serve and lose my sense of crisis and urgency, allowing my opponent to put pressure on me with my second serve," Zheng said. 

She added that she understands mistakes like this could be more critical when facing top players, noting she will work on concentration.

"I know that mistakes like this can be fatal if I'm up against top players. This match has taught me a lesson that I mustn't relax no matter what the score is. I also hope that I can stay focused throughout the next match," she said. 

Zheng is currently working with new coach Dante Bottini, who has tutored male tennis players such as Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov and Nicolas Jarry. Her coach Pere Riba has been sidelined after undergoing a scheduled hip surgery in November. 

Argentine Bottini has brought a new perspective to her game and contributed to her prolonged pre-season, which was made feasible by skipping lead-up tournaments, Zheng said.

"I am just constantly improving my game, adding more things and trying to approach new areas," Zheng said, noting that she strives to improve even in practice, fitness and recovery sessions and in-match play. 

"I'm right now top five, but still far away from my goal," she said, adding that she is focused on the present and has buried any regrets from the 2024 Australian Open final. 

Also on Sunday, Chinese women's world No.37 Wang Xinyu was eliminated by 11th-seed Paula Badosa of Spain 2-0. 

China's 22-year-old male player Bu Yunchaokete, playing his first Australian Open main draw match in his career, was defeated by Hady Habib of Lebanon 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-7 (6). 

Thunder and lightning on Sunday saw players and fans rushing for cover, with heavy rain lashing Melbourne Park in a match scheduling headache for organizers. 

Scheduled matches featuring Chinese players Shang Juncheng, men's world No.50, and women's world No.53 Yuan Yue were postponed to Monday.