China’s rising tennis star Zheng Qinwen has secured her spot in the Italian Open quarterfinals for the third consecutive year, defeating former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu of Canada in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 on Monday.
The match marked another chapter in the rivalry between the two players, who last met at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event in Toronto in 2022, where Zheng triumphed in a thrilling three-set battle.
Eighth-seeded Zheng came out strong, quickly establishing a 3-0 lead in the first set. Andreescu rallied, and the two exchanged breaks in the fifth and sixth games. A double fault from Zheng in the seventh game handed Andreescu a break, allowing the Canadian to surge ahead 5-4.
Showing composure beyond her years, Zheng regrouped at a critical moment. She broke back in the tenth game and claimed three consecutive games to take the first set 7-5, despite having committed six double faults.
“After going up 3-0, I might have relaxed a bit and lost some focus, playing less aggressively and letting the match slip into her rhythm,” Zheng reflected. “But what I’m proudest of today is that even when I made mistakes, I didn’t let it affect my mindset. I kept calm and fought for every point.”
Riding the momentum, Zheng dominated the second set, racing to a 4-0 lead. Although Andreescu managed to break in the fifth game, Zheng immediately broke back and sealed the set 6-1.
A standout moment in the match was when Zheng executed a spectacular tweener—a between-the-legs shot—in the second set. “In the four years since I joined the tour, this is the second time I’ve successfully hit a tweener in a match,” she said with a smile. “At that moment, I felt amazing because when I hit a really great point, I actually enjoyed tennis even more. I don’t like making mistakes on court because I’m being timid.”
Looking ahead, Zheng will face top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the quarterfinals, marking their first-ever meeting on clay. Acknowledging Sabalenka’s aggressive style, Zheng emphasized the importance of defense. “On clay, I still want to maintain a certain level of consistency while looking for some opportunities to be aggressive,” she commented.
Zheng’s continued success at the Italian Open highlights her growing presence on the international tennis stage, and fans around the world will be eagerly watching her upcoming match against Sabalenka.
