Kerber vs Zheng: Paris 2024 Olympics Quarter-Final Analysis
The end of a career in true Kerber-style
We conclude our coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with an intersection between past and future.
The retiring Angelique Kerber, a former world #1, three-time Major winner and Olympic silver medalist, against Qinwen Zheng, Olympic gold medalist three days later.
Kerber was a magnet for formidable matches throughout her illustrious career, so it was fitting that it ended on yet another thrilling match.
One last time, Kerber anticipated, pushed and counterpunched a power player to the limit. She fought until her last drop of sweat. And, with her career on the line, Kerber made sure she engraved in our memories her trademark shots and qualities by delivering 3 stunning career point saves from 3:6 down in the deciding tie-break.
The flat forehand down the line winner
Set 3 TB 6:3, Zheng MP #1
📺 credit: Eurosport / Max
The crosscourt forehand winner, on the move and with a physics-defying angle
Set 3 TB 6:4, Zheng MP #2
A combination of resilience, grit and bravery to win a 19-shot rally
Set 3 TB 5:6, Zheng MP #3
From a gallery of earlier points, we also highlight this 29-shot rally.
It was played during the 5th game of the third set. That game was a 14-minute, 20-point battle. Kerber finally held for a 4-1 lead, after saving 3 break points.
At this point, Zheng wasn’t coping well with long rallies and Kerber’s moonballs. The Chinese accumulated 22 errors, 15 of which unforced, in the first 5 games of the deciding set. But she stayed positive and was able to make a quick turn-around, firing 7 winners and 2 forcing shots to win 12 of the next 13 points.
With the score tied at 4-4 and her worst phase behind, Zheng was now the firm favourite. Kerber was at her physical limit (or past it) but hung on. Then she performed some last-minute magic to level the deciding tie-break at 6:6. From here, a couple of key third set factors emerged to decide the last 2 points of the match.
Set 3 TB 6:6
At 6:6, Zheng hit a drop shot winner to earn her 4th match point.
It was a tactical option that Zheng used often and successfully during the third set. She was 7-for-9 (78%) when attempting a drop shot while Kerber was at the opposite end, going 1-for-5 (20%).
Set 3 TB 7:6, Zheng MP #4
With nothing on her legs, Kerber was out of tricks and magic. So she netted a line forehand on Zheng’s 4th match point.
It was the type of shot that worked for Kerber for 2 sets but lost efficiency right at the end.
Kerber down-the-line forehand groundstrokes per set
** winning shots include winners and shots that induced a forced error
Set 1 = +6 (7 winning shots / 1 unforced error)
Set 2 = +3 (4 winning shots / 1 unforced error)
Set 3 = -3 (2 winning shots / 5 unforced errors)
It was the type of shot that worked for most of 21 years!
Congratulations Angie on an accomplished career! Thank you for the memories!
2024 Olympic Games Quarter-Final - Match Data
Key match numbers
Kerber: 24 winners / 29 unforced errors = -5
Zheng: 63 winners / 50 unforced errors = +13
Kerber: 1 Backhand winner
Zheng: 8 net winners
Zheng: 21 return errors
Zheng: 47% 1st serves made, including 33% in set 2
Break points: Kerber 5-for-5 / Zheng 6-for-13
Net points: Kerber 2-for-8 / Zheng 18-for-25
Medium rallies (5-8 shots): Zheng +22 (49-27)
Long rallies (9+ shots): Kerber +13 (25-12)
Match Summary Stats
Set-by-Set Stats
Strategy Stats
Points Won by Rally Length
Winners and Errors (returns & rally shots)
Strokes Breakdown
Direction of winning shots and unforced errors (only groundstrokes)
Serve and Return
1st Serves
2nd Serves
Kerber - Forehand Performance
Kerber - Backhand Performance
Zheng - Forehand Performance
Zheng - Backhand Performance
To find out more about the stats published here, please visit the following post.
** Starting at the Olympics, we have made changes to our summary tables. Please provide us your feedback.
While we follow the same criteria used on all major tennis events, our stats are collected through our own video analysis and are not official WTA or ITF stats.
Thanks for reading!
— Tennis Inside Numbers
What a memerable match! Respect to Kerber and also to the resiliant girl, Zheng Qinwen. Queen Wen the Gold medel in Olympic Single!