What history can Zheng Qinwen and Donna Vekic make for China and Croatia in Paris 2024 final?

Oli Dickson Jefford 02 Aug 2024 7:11 PM

Zheng Qinwen and Donna Vekic go for gold in women's singles final.

Once again, a surprise women’s final has been delivered at the Olympic Games.

Many expected Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff to be among those going for gold in Paris, but it will be sixth seed Zheng Qinwen of China versus 13th seed Donna Vekic of Croatia battling it out for the title.

Qinwen and Vekic are among the most popular WTA stars and few will begrudge either striking gold – but what history is on the line for them?

We look at what history both have made – or could make with gold – and the compatriots they have emulated.

Zheng aims to claim historic Chinese gold

Zheng is now guaranteed to be China’s first-ever singles medallist regardless of the result on Saturday – after Li Na finished an agonising fourth place in Beijing 16 years ago.

However, she isn’t China’s first medallist – and won’t be their first gold medallist.

Two decades ago China struck gold in Athens, with Li Ting and Sun Tiantian storming to the women’s doubles titles.

Four years later, Zheng Jie and Yan Zi took bronze in Beijing in the same event – and a third medal has already been secured in Paris.

Alongside Qinwen, Wang Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen reached the mixed doubles final – picking up the silver medal.

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Vekic looks to follow in big footsteps

It has been a staggering summer for Vekic, who reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon less than a month ago.

The Croatian now targets a fifth career title but by far the most prestigious of her career – having never won an event above WTA 250-level coming into Paris 2024.

Vekic, 28, is guaranteed an Olympic silver medal at worst but, much like Qinwen, she will not be Croatia’s first medallist in tennis – though she will be the first woman.

However, she is ending a 32-year wait for a Croatian medal and is guaranteed to be her nation’s best-ever tennis medallist in singles, no matter what happens in Saturday’s final.

One of the leading players of the 1990s and early 2000s, former world No 2 Goran Ivanisevic won bronze in the men’s singles at Barcelona in 1992.

That is Croatia’s only singles medal – but they have had huge success in doubles.

Tokyo 2020 saw an all-Croatian final in the men’s doubles, with Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic defeating Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig to win gold.

Alongside his singles bronze, Ivanisevic won doubles bronze in Barcelona with Goran Prpic, while Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic took bronze at Athens 2004.