"All it takes to make your first Slam semifinal is a Li Na a** slap" - Fans hilariously celebrate Zheng Qinwen reaching Australian Open SF

Zheng Qinwen's scintillating tennis from a set down saw her clinch a first Grand Slam semifinal berth at the 2024 Australian Open on Wednesday (January 24). The 12th seed overcame a sluggish start to outplay Russia's Anna Kalinskaya in the second and third sets and win the match a score of 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1.

Zheng Qinwen will take on fellow first-timer, Dayana Yastremska, in a battle of youngsters on Friday for a place in the final.

Zheng was edged out in the first-set tie-break, with Kalinskaya winning 41 points -- just one more than her. However, she roared back in the second to clinch it 6-3. The Chinese star continued the onslaught in the third, breaking twice to lead 4-1 before Kalinskaya took a medical timeout to receive treatment for her right leg.

The timeout proved to be a short respite, with Zheng winning the next two games on the bounce to seal her first-ever semifinal at a Grand Slam.

Several fans online expressed their elation at Zheng Qinwen's win. One fan jokingly suggested that all the luck was in her corner after compatriot and former Australian Open champion Li Na congratulated her with a slap on the b*tt after her third-round win.

"So all it takes to make your first Slam semifinal is a Li Na a** slap," the fan wrote.

Zheng, who will break into the top 10 of the WTA rankings next week, was lauded for her incredible achievement by another fan:

"New top 10 player. So proud of her."

Another account wrote:

"Congrats Queenwen! First time ever as semifinalist in major. Not only reach semifinal, she is currently debut in Top 10 WTA live ranking. She could possibly jump to no.7 if she reach final or no.6 if she win the final match."

Here are a few more reactions from tennis fans:

Zheng Qinwen describes her Australian Open QF victory as "just the beginning"

Qinwen Zheng

By reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal, Zheng Qinwen eclipsed her previous best Slam performance - reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open last year. She also became the fourth Asian player to reach the final four of a Major before turning 22.

During her press conference after the match, Zheng described her run as "just the beginning."

“I’m so happy right now, really excited. It’s the first time for me – I’m really happy to be in the semifinals, especially with such a good performance like this,” Zheng said.

“The feeling is just – I can’t explain by words right now because there were so many inside,” she added. “I mean, happiness. Of course, I’m proud of myself. This is just the beginning.”