Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen scored a significant victory on Friday, defeating former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus with a convincing 6-3, 6-4 win to advance to the third round of the WTA 1000 event at Indian Wells.
Facing Azarenka for the third time, the eighth-seeded Zheng showcased her growth and determination, securing her first win against the seasoned veteran. Having received a bye in the first round, Zheng made a strong start to her campaign.
“It’s my first time beating Azarenka, such a great player. I tried to play solid, engage in long rallies with her because she’s very consistent. If I don’t take my chances, you can see in the second set, I was up 2-0, but she came back,” Zheng said after the match. “She beat me twice when I was 19 and 21, so I’m very happy to win this match.”
In the men’s draw, China’s Buyunchaokete faced a tough challenge against fifth seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia, falling 6-2, 6-2 in the ATP 1000 Indian Wells Masters second round. Despite the loss, the experience against a top-ranked player is expected to contribute to Buyunchaokete’s development on the ATP Tour.
