Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen's journey at the BNP Paribas Open concluded Thursday after a hard-fought 6-3, 6-3 quarterfinal defeat to World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in Indian Wells. The match, delayed by weather disruptions, saw 22-year-old Zheng challenge the Polish powerhouse but struggle to convert critical break opportunities.
Swiatek dominated early in both sets, racing to a 5-1 lead in the opener before Zheng clawed back with a break of serve. The four-time Grand Slam champion ultimately sealed the first set and built a commanding 4-0 advantage in the second. While Zheng showed resilience with late breaks, Swiatek's composure in unpredictable wind conditions proved decisive.
The loss reversed their last meeting at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Zheng claimed gold after defeating Swiatek in straight sets. Statistics revealed Swiatek's superior performance on first serves (74% points won) and break point conversions (5/5), compared to Zheng's 2/5 conversion rate.
Swiatek acknowledged post-match challenges: "You need to adjust quickly… pushing until the end was key." She advances to face Russia's Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals, aiming for her third Indian Wells title.
