China’s rising tennis star Zheng Qinwen powered into the last 16 of the Miami Open with a commanding victory over America’s Taylor Townsend on Saturday. Zheng defeated Townsend 6-1, 7-6(3) in the women’s singles third round, matching her best performance at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament.
In their previous encounter at the 2019 Miami Open qualifiers, Zheng had squandered a one-set lead to bow out against Townsend. This time, she showcased her growth and determination, dominating from the outset. Zheng raced to a 5-0 lead within the first 17 minutes, using her aggressive baseline play to unsettle Townsend. Although the American managed to hold serve in the sixth game to avoid a first-set bagel, Zheng comfortably closed out the set 6-1.
The second set saw a tighter contest, with both players holding serve and pushing each other to the limit. Neither could secure a break, leading to a tense tiebreak. Zheng quickly gained the upper hand in the tiebreak, jumping to a 5-0 lead. Despite a brief comeback attempt from Townsend, Zheng sealed the victory and booked her place in the next round.
Up next for Zheng is another home favorite, Ashlyn Krueger, as she aims to surpass her previous best and continue her impressive run in Miami.
On the men’s side, Germany’s Alexander Zverev advanced with a straightforward 6-2, 6-4 win over British qualifier Jacob Fearnley. Mixing strong serves with baseline dominance, Zverev saved both break points he faced during the 74-minute match. This victory marks his 145th Masters 1000 win, setting a new record for German players by surpassing Tommy Haas.
“I’m happy to have improved from Indian Wells, where I didn’t feel well on the court,” Zverev told reporters after the match. “Hopefully this is just the first of many matches for me here, and I can continue playing well.”
Zverev will face Australia’s Jordan Thompson in the next round.
