Zheng Qinwen storms past Svitolina into China Open semi-finals

Zheng Qinwen storms past Svitolina into China Open semi-finals

Qinwen Zheng beat Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6(6) in Beijing on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the China Open, her first WTA 1000 semi-final since elbow surgery last year.

The 24-year-old wildcard, ranked 54th in the world, needed one hour and 47 minutes to get past the seventh-ranked Ukrainian in front of a roaring home crowd. It was the first meeting between the two.

Zheng Qinwen China Open run gathers pace

Zheng struck early, breaking Svitolina three times to take the first set 6-3. Svitolina steadied in the second and broke for 4-3, but Zheng broke straight back to force a tiebreak.

The tiebreak began badly for the home favourite, who double-faulted on the first point and fell 0-2 behind. She then won four straight points and sealed victory on her second match point with a big return followed by a forehand winner, collapsing onto her back in celebration.

The numbers told the story of her aggression: 48 winners against just 13 unforced errors from Svitolina. It was Zheng’s first straight-sets win of the tournament after she spent more than 10 hours on court to reach the quarter-finals.

“Truthfully, because I really wanted to grab this win, I was really nervous,” Zheng told the crowd afterwards.

A comeback gathering momentum

The semi-final is Zheng’s first at WTA 1000 level since Rome in May 2025, before arthroscopic elbow surgery in July 2025. It is also her second Beijing semi-final after 2024, when she lost to Karolina Muchova.

The result capped a memorable week for Zheng, who turned 24 in Beijing and has thrilled the home crowd with her aggressive tennis. The win over Svitolina was her second top-10 victory of the season, the other coming against Iga Swiatek at the US Open, and she has hit a tournament-leading 151 winners this week.

For Svitolina, the defeat ended a strong run. The Ukrainian had reached her 29th career WTA 1000 quarter-final this week, a fine season by any measure, but she was outgunned when it mattered.

Zheng will face the winner of the remaining quarter-final between Swiatek and Elise Mertens for a place in the final.

Who did Zheng Qinwen beat to reach the China Open semi-final?

Zheng beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6(6) in the quarter-finals in Beijing on Friday, her first straight-sets win of the tournament.

When did Zheng last reach a WTA 1000 semi-final?

Her last WTA 1000 semi-final came at Rome in May 2025, before she underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery in July 2025.

Who will Zheng face in the Beijing semi-final?

She will play the winner of the quarter-final between Iga Swiatek and Elise Mertens.

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