Misinformation about Iga Swiatek hitting Zheng Qinwen during United Cup warmup goes viral after their Paris Olympics clash

Zheng Qinwen stunned World No. 1 Iga Swiatek to book a spot in the gold-medal final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In an impressive show of her finest tennis skills, the Chinese downed the reigning French Open champion 6-2, 7-5 at Roland Garros in 1 hour and 51 minutes.

Iga Swiatek and Zheng Qinwen's video from the 2024 United Cup was recently circulated, out of context, after their semifinal encounter at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The video, which was initially shared online in January, had light-hearted undertones to it.

The video shows the Pole's serve hitting Zheng Qinwen on the shoulder. The 2023 Asian Games champion shrugged it off while Swiatek apologized and explained herself in the video. The incident at the time momentarily put players in a lighter mood before they geared up for an intense competition.

However, a video from the duo's semifinal clash at the Games has gone viral, hinting at racist overtones. It also spreads misinformation that Swiatek's serve was directed at the Chinese after the former suffered a loss against the latter.

"Yet another instance of blatant aggression by SORE LOSERS against Chinese athletes. The POLE hit Zheng with a tennis ball at full-speed. Poland joins the US and Australia in its rude and unsportsman behavior towards Chinese athletes," wrote a user on X.

Swiatek could hardly be called a "sore loser" since the serve was made during warm-ups at the United Cup. It is common for players to get hit during play and it may be a far stretch to assume it was directed to Zheng because of her nationality.

Iga Swiatek collapsed after Danielle Collins' body shot in Paris Olympics QFs, shrugged it off to enter the SFs

Iga Swiatek(right) and Danielle Collins(left) at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Iga Swiatek clashed with Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals where she found herself at the receiving end of a body shot by her opponent. In the see-saw of a match, Swiatek took the first set, 6-1.

During the second set, Swiatek was hit by Collins' backhand pass in the abdomen. The Pole fell on her knees, clutching her stomach and catching her breath. Collins walked over to Swiatek's side of the net to make sure her opponent was okay. Swiatek gestured that she was fine and play resumed.

Collins later took a medical timeout in the third set. She was trailing 1-4 before she decided to retire due to injury.

After her loss to Zheng in the semifinals, Swiatek will next play A.K. Schmiedlova in a bid for a bronze medal at the Games.