The site of many famous matches, etched in tennis lore, the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena in the heart of Melbourne Park is where dreams come true.

In 2014, Chinese superstar Li Na stormed to her women's singles title on this hallowed center court, becoming the first Asian player to lift the trophy at the Australian Open.

With nostalgia still swirling over Li's deeds, her proteges Zheng Qinwen and Wang Yafan battled at Rod Laver Arena in a historic all-Chinese clash.

Wang Yafan competes during the women's singles 3rd round match between Zheng Qinwen and Wang Yafan of China at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 20, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

Zheng and Wang were lifted to great heights in a nerve-jangling third-round match that went down to the wire. Like the weather, which turned from sunny to cloudy, the match was a see-saw as a gentle breeze wafted through the court.

The favorite Zheng, seeded 12th and Chinese tennis' biggest star, found her range early and raced through the first set. But Wang was unruffled and soon leveled the match to set the stage for an epic third set 10-point tiebreak.

Zheng edged ahead and closed in on victory with two match points. But she wasted the first before sealing victory after a remarkable 25-shot rally as the two-hour, 40-minute rollercoaster had finally drawn to a close.

As a despondent Wang hit into the net, the 21-year-old Zheng booked a spot into the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time and she celebrated with gusto by tossing her racquet jubilantly before raising her arms in triumph.

Zheng has been to the last 16 at a Grand Slam before, but this effort feels "absolutely different" to reaching the same stage at Roland Garros in 2022, as she faced another Chinese player in such a high-stress match.

"We both tried our best. The moment I finally won, I was so happy. Throwing up the racket is not a thing that I would do normally. But I just felt the impulse and really couldn't hold back any emotion. I was just so excited. I still had more time to calm down even after I returned to the gym. My heartbeat was very fast," Zheng recalled.

Zheng Qinwen celebrates during the women's singles 3rd round match between Zheng Qinwen and Wang Yafan of China at Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 20, 2024. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

In a notable contrast, the angst of a painful defeat was evident for 29-year-old Wang who stood in front of the net for a few seconds before waving goodbye to spectators in the stands as she received a thunderous ovation.

"Actually, I didn't feel anything at that moment. I didn't have reaction to it until I walked off the court. I thought, maybe I should have played more proactively at the last point, or whether it would be better to change a different route," said Wang.

"I didn't cry. It was just a pity. Because the match was so close and I did have a lot of opportunities. It was also my first time to reach the third round at a Grand Slam and I played at the center court with the support of many fans."

It's a match that will be forever remembered for those lucky enough to be in attendance as fans lapped up every point to conjure an electric atmosphere that rivaled the all-time classics seen on this historic court.

Fans marveled at the deeds from both players, including Marcel, who is a tennis coach living in Melbourne and has been attending the Australian Open since he was 10 years old.

"Zheng, amazing, very attacking, wants to finish her points a lot quicker than the other player. Her backhand is looking amazing. I think she was always a step in front," said Marcel.

"Wang is a great opponent. Awesome. Groundstrokes played really well, behind the baseline. I think she could work on finishing her rallies a little bit quicker. And maybe not trying to extend the rallies out... maybe trying to shorten the points a bit better."

Chinese fans had their loyalties split with even the players noticing the dilemma they faced.

"When I was in the lead, they would cheer for Wang. When Wang got the upper hand, they would turn around and cheer for me. There were a lot of 'exchanges'," Zheng said.

There had only been two previous "China Derbies" in Australian Open history. In 2010, Zheng Jie defeated Peng Shuai in three sets in the first round on court eight. Three years later, Zheng Jie edged Zhang Yuxuan also in the opening round.

But the stakes were significantly raised for the clash between Zheng and Wang in what proved to be one of the most compelling matches of the tournament so far.

With her side of the draw opening up, due to a slew of upsets to top seeds in a wildly unpredictable tournament, Zheng has an opportunity to produce a momentous run in Melbourne much like her hero Li.

But firstly she will need to get through France's Oceane Dodin on Monday with a quarterfinal spot on the line.

"In the Grand Slams, everyone must be working hard to make breakthroughs, and there will definitely be various opportunities," Zheng said. "My breakthrough here came slower than I expected, but I still want to say that I am very proud of myself. I want to take my time and enjoy the process."

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