Zheng Qinwen, China's top female tennis player, has achieved a historic milestone by securing her first Grand Slam semifinal berth at the Australian Open. In a thrilling quarterfinal match, Zheng overcame Anna Kalinskaya of Russia in three sets, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1.

Despite a shaky start in the first set, Zheng regained her composure and dominated the remaining sets, winning 10 of the last 11 games. Her victory marks the third time a Chinese player has reached a major semifinal, following in the footsteps of Li Na, Zheng Jie, and Peng Shuai.

Zheng's success at the Australian Open guarantees her a top-10 debut on the WTA rankings next week, making her the second Chinese woman after Li to achieve this feat. The 21-year-old has been recognized for her remarkable improvement, having won her first two WTA Tour titles last year.

In the post-match interview, Zheng expressed her excitement and gratitude for her top-10 breakthrough. She acknowledged the challenges she faced in the first set but praised Kalinskaya's performance. Zheng will now face Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska in the semifinals, aiming to secure a place in the final of the season-opening Grand Slam.