In a thrilling quarterfinal match at the China Open in Beijing on Friday, home favorite and No. 5 seed Zheng Qinwen showcased remarkable resilience to defeat Russia’s Mirra Andreeva with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-0, 6-4. This victory propels Zheng into the semifinals of a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 tournament for the first time in her burgeoning career.
The match began with Zheng facing significant challenges, as she dropped the first four games of the opening set. Despite the rocky start, she mounted an impressive comeback, winning five consecutive games to edge ahead at 5-4. However, Andreeva regained her composure, taking the next three games to clinch the first set.
Undeterred, Zheng adjusted her strategy in the second set, displaying superior performance on both offense and defense. Her adaptations paid off handsomely, as she dominated the set without conceding a single game, leveling the match at one set apiece.
The decisive third set was a rollercoaster, with Andreeva initially gaining the upper hand by converting two break points to lead 4-2. Demonstrating her trademark tenacity, Zheng fought back vigorously. She broke Andreeva’s serve to bring the score to 4-4 and then surged ahead by holding her own serve. In the crucial tenth game, Zheng maintained her momentum, securing victory with a final hold of serve.
Zheng’s comeback victory has thrilled fans and highlights her growing reputation for resilience under pressure. As she advances to the semifinals, the tennis world watches with keen interest to see how far “Queen Wen” can go in this prestigious tournament.
Reference(s):
Zheng Qinwen rallies to beat Andreeva, reach China Open semifinals
cgtn.com
