Zheng Qinwen's campaign at the WTA Qatar Open came to an end on Tuesday after a straight-sets defeat to Ons Jabeur in the round of 32.
The World No. 8 from China was unable to overcome the World No. 35 Tunisian player, losing 6-4, 6-2. This loss marks another early exit for Zheng this season, following her second-round elimination at the Australian Open by Germany's Laura Siegemund.
Ons Jabeur, rejuvenated from her last win against a Top-10 opponent at last year's Madrid Open despite battling injuries, will next face Sofia Kenin, the USA's 2020 Australian Open champion.
In other tournament action, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was unexpectedly defeated by Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova in a two-and-a-half-hour match with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.
The USA's Coco Gauff also faced an early exit after falling in straight sets to Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, while Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina advanced to the last 16 after overcoming the USA's Peyton Stearns with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Rybakina is set to play Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova in the third round.
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Zheng Qinwen exits Qatar Open after loss to Ons Jabeur in round of 32
cgtn.com
