Zheng Qinwen continued to shine in front of her home fans at the WTA Wuhan Open, overcoming Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in a thrilling three-set match to set up an all-Chinese semifinal with Wang Xinyu.
Amidst the cheers of a raucous crowd, Zheng showcased her dominance right from the start, taking the first set 6-2 with a powerful ace. Her aggressive play and precision kept Paolini on the back foot.
However, Paolini, who is ranked fifth in the world, rallied in the second set. She improved significantly, adjusting her strategy to win the set 6-3 and force a decider, showcasing why she’s among the top players on the tour.
In the final set, Zheng remained composed on the brink of match point. She capitalized on several errors from her opponent, and a brilliant forehand edged her closer to a place in the last four.
The 22-year-old sealed the match when Paolini sent a return wide, an error confirmed by Hawkeye. This victory marked Zheng’s third consecutive win over Paolini, following triumphs last season in Palermo and Zhengzhou.
Zheng won 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, claiming her 23rd victory since the end of Wimbledon. This remarkable run makes her the player with the most wins on the WTA Tour in that span, with just three defeats.
The upcoming semifinal against Wang Xinyu promises to be an exciting matchup, highlighting the rising talent in Chinese women’s tennis. Fans eagerly await the all-Chinese showdown at the Wuhan Open.
Reference(s):
Zheng overcomes Paolini to set up an all-Chinese semi-final in Wuhan
cgtn.com
