Losing to Mukhova, Zheng Qinwen missed the China Open women’s singles final
On the evening of October 5th, at the 2024 China Open women’s singles semifinals in Beijing, Chinese player Zheng Qinwen took on Czech star Marketa Vondrousova, ultimately falling 0-2 with set scores of 3-6 and 4-6. While Zheng didn’t make it to the finals, her performance marked her best result in a WTA 1000 event to date.
This year’s China Open was particularly significant for Zheng, as it was her home tournament debut following her gold medal victory in the women’s singles at the Paris Olympics. Seeded fifth and currently ranked seventh in the world, she began her journey in the tournament with a first-round bye and advanced through the bracket by defeating competitors such as Rashimova, Podoroska, Anisimova, and Mira Andrejeva, ultimately reaching the semifinals for the first time.
Vondrousova, on the other hand, advanced to the semifinals with an impressive win over the tournament’s top seed, Aryna Sabalenka. Ahead of their matchup, Zheng expressed her admiration for Vondrousova’s intellect on the court, acknowledging that her victory over Sabalenka indicated she was performing at a high level. This prompted Zheng to prepare thoroughly for their clash.
The match commenced with both players successfully holding their serves. However, during the sixth game of the first set, Zheng experienced a slip while saving a break point, resulting in a fall where she attempted to make a return shot from the ground. Slow-motion replays revealed that she injured her right hand during the fall, leading to a medical timeout. After receiving brief treatment on the sidelines, Zheng returned to the court, but the injury and her taped hand visibly affected her game. Vondrousova took advantage of the situation, securing the first set 6-3.
In the second set, Vondrousova once again broke Zheng’s serve early. Despite Zheng’s determination to regain her momentum and create opportunities, Vondrousova maintained her composure, especially during her service games. Ultimately, it was Vondrousova’s strong play that earned her the match.
Looking ahead, Zheng will be traveling to Wuhan for the Wuhan Open, which kicks off next Monday, as she continues her quest for a spot in the WTA year-end finals. Her semifinal finish has allowed her to surpass Collins in total points, moving her into eighth place in the standings.
In the final match, Vondrousova will face off against American player Coco Gauff, who staged a comeback victory against Paula Badosa earlier in the day. The final is set to take place on the evening of October 6th.
