The Chinese player has made an impressive return to the world’s elite. A serious injury had set her back considerably.
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen has become the first Chinese woman to win the high-calibre tennis tournament in Beijing, thereby marking her definitive return to the world’s elite. The 24-year-old defeated Russia’s Mirra Andreeva 7–5, 6–4 in Sunday’s final. For Zheng, it was her first tournament victory in almost two years (Tokyo).
An operation on her right elbow had set the former world number four back considerably following her Olympic success at the Stade Roland Garros. She was therefore reliant on a wildcard in Beijing – and made the most of it. Whilst top players such as US Open winner Yelena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) and world number two Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) were knocked out early on, Zheng fought her way through round after round.
As a result, she will climb to 23rd in the rankings on Monday, whilst runner-up Andrejewa (19) can at least console herself with a new career-high. The French Open champion will be listed in third place for the first time, with only Sabalenka and world number one Rybakina ahead of her.
However, despite having set points in the first set, she fell just short of securing her fourth title of the season following Adelaide, Linz and Roland Garros. Zheng, who had already impressed by reaching the quarter-finals at the US Open, saved all three at 4–5 and took the lead. The match remained closely contested, but at 4–4 Zheng managed the decisive break; shortly afterwards, after 1 hour and 42 minutes, she converted her first match point.
Tamara Korpatsch (Hamburg) had lost in the first round, whilst Eva Lys (Hamburg) had retired. As a result, the 24-year-old slips even further down the world rankings from 102nd place. Last year, she had reached the quarter-finals of the 1000-level event, beating Rybakina along the way.
