China’s rising tennis star Zheng Qinwen showcased her prowess on the court, defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday.
With this win, Zheng advances to the semifinals, becoming only the second Chinese player to reach this stage in the WTA Finals after Li Na’s historic run in 2013. The 21-year-old’s performance was nothing short of spectacular as she dominated from the outset.
Entering the match with confidence from her previous three victories over Paolini, Zheng wasted no time asserting her dominance. She broke Paolini’s serve three times in the first set and even delivered a flawless game in the sixth, wrapping up the set swiftly.
Paolini struggled to find her rhythm in the second set, conceding two more breaks and falling behind 5-1. Despite a valiant effort to hold off Zheng by pushing the seventh game to deuce, Zheng responded with two powerful serves, including an ace, to seal the match.
“I am really proud that I can make it because I didn’t know what would happen when I came to this WTA Finals,” Zheng said after her victory. “It’s my first time, so I just told myself to enjoy it. Actually, I played in a very difficult group. I want to thank the fans who came to watch me today.”
In the other match of the group, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan defeated world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. However, Sabalenka’s earlier successes ensured her advancement to the semifinals alongside Zheng.
“It was a tough match,” Rybakina commented. “It’s nice to finish the year with at least one win against the world number one. She has all the chances to win. Every match I played here was a bit better. It’s not easy after such a long break. Today I served really well.”
Zheng’s remarkable performance continues to inspire fans around the world, and her journey in the WTA Finals is a testament to her hard work and dedication to the sport.
Reference(s):
Zheng Qinwen beats Jasmine Paolini, reaches WTA Finals last four
cgtn.com
