China's tennis star Zheng Qinwen continued her dominance at the Italian Open on Monday, securing a third consecutive quarterfinal appearance with a commanding 7-5, 6-1 victory over Canada's Bianca Andreescu. The 21-year-old’s triumph over the former US Open champion highlighted her tactical growth and resilience under pressure.
Zheng started strong, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first set before Andreescu clawed back with two breaks, testing the eighth seed’s composure. Despite six double faults, Zheng regained control in a pivotal tenth game, breaking serve and claiming three consecutive games to seal the set. 'I stayed calm even after mistakes,' Zheng later emphasized, 'and fought for every point.'
The Chinese player’s momentum surged in the second set, marked by a crowd-stunning tweener shot she called her 'second successful between-the-legs shot in four years.' Zheng’s aggressive baseline play overwhelmed Andreescu, closing the match in 1 hour 32 minutes.
Next, Zheng faces Belarusian world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in her first clay-court meeting against the two-time Grand Slam champion. 'Sabalenka is aggressive, so I need sharp defense and controlled offense,' Zheng noted, outlining her strategy for the quarterfinal clash.
