Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen is gearing up for a thrilling rematch against her longtime rival, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, at the upcoming Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Set to begin on Saturday, the tournament places Zheng in the competitive Purple Group alongside Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, and Jasmine Paolini of Italy.
Zheng has had a remarkable breakout year in 2024, capturing titles at the Palermo Ladies Open, the Paris Olympic Games, and the Pan Pacific Open. She also made an impressive run to the Australian Open final, securing her spot at the WTA Finals as the No. 7 seed.
Despite her stellar performance this season, Zheng faces a formidable opponent in Sabalenka, whom she has yet to defeat in four previous encounters. Their most recent clash was a hard-fought battle in the women’s singles final at the Wuhan Open, where Sabalenka emerged victorious with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win.
Fans are eagerly awaiting Saturday’s match, which promises to be an intense showdown as Zheng seeks to overturn her losing streak against the world No. 1.
Completing the Purple Group are Rybakina and Paolini. While Zheng has faced challenges against Rybakina, losing both of their past matches, she holds a confident 3-0 record over Paolini, which could play to her advantage in the group stages.
In the Orange Group, defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland will compete against American stars Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, as well as Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic.
This year’s WTA Finals is a showcase of tennis excellence, with Sabalenka securing two Grand Slam tournaments—the Australian Open and the U.S. Open. Swiatek dominated the French Open, and Krejcikova clinched the Wimbledon Championships, setting the stage for a highly competitive event.
The top two finishers from each group will advance to the semifinals on November 8, with the winners competing for the title on November 9. Tennis enthusiasts around the world are poised for a week of electrifying matches.
Zheng’s journey at the WTA Finals represents not only her personal ambition but also a moment of pride for fans back home. As she prepares to face her rivals, all eyes will be on Riyadh to see if she can cap off her extraordinary year with a championship victory.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
