Zheng Qinwen swept to her second profession title — her first on dwelling soil — on the Zhengzhou Open on Sunday, successful a hard-fought three-set ultimate and celebrating with an impromptu karaoke session on the trophy ceremony.
The 21-year-old capped an unimaginable week with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Czech seventh-seed Barbora Krejcikova to change into simply the third Chinese language girl to win a singles title on the WTA 500 stage or greater, after Li Na and Zheng Saisai.
This 12 months marked the primary time in WTA Tour historical past that three totally different Chinese language ladies have received a singles title in a season, with Zhu Lin triumphing in Hua Hin, Wang Xiyu in Guangzhou and Zheng claiming her first trophy in Palermo in July.
After successful Asian Video games gold on September 29, the Twenty fourth-ranked Zheng suffered a disappointing first-round loss on the China Open to Elena Rybakina, however she recovered remarkably by securing the most important title of her younger profession 13 days later.
“That was such a particular expertise to win my first 500 in China, particularly in Zhengzhou,” stated Zheng, who will return to the highest 20 within the rankings on Monday.
Zheng was the primary to interrupt as she leapt to a 2-0 benefit however Krejcikova grabbed the following 5 video games and took a one-set lead in 39 minutes.
Zheng’s first-serve proportion was a surprisingly low 29 % and the Chinese language primary knew that statistic needed to change for her to face an opportunity in opposition to the previous French Open champion.
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The house favorite started the second set on the precise foot, breaking from the beginning and carving out a 5-2 hole.
Her first-serve proportion was a wholesome 68 % in that set, and she or he received 92 % of these factors.
The ultimate set was a tug of conflict, with the standard of play going up. Rallies obtained longer, and every participant got here up with unimaginable photographs when their backs have been in opposition to the wall.
An excellent crosscourt backhand winner gave Zheng a pair of break factors in recreation seven and the 21-year-old inched forward 4-3 on a Krejcikova double fault, her sixth of the match.
Krejcikova struck again however she couldn’t maintain off Zheng, who regained her benefit and served out the victory in fashion, with a formidable one-two punch and three service winners.
“Positively a troublesome day for me however it was an awesome week,” stated Krejcikova, who was bidding for a 3rd title of the season from 4 finals contested.
Solely Iga Swiatek (seven) and Aryna Sabalenka (six) have reached extra singles finals than Krejcikova in 2023.