Qinwen Zheng has metabolized well the defeat against Aryna Sabalenka in the first match of the round robin of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, because, since that match, the young Chinese has shown very convincing tennis, winning three consecutive matches and guaranteeing herself the final of the year-end Master, that is being played in Saudi Arabia.
And she did it at her first career participation at the WTA Finals. Zheng deservedly defeated the winner of Wimbledon Barbora Krejcikova and equaled the best result achieved by a Chinese in the event, replicating what Li Na did in 2013. Zheng, however, will try to change the ending by writing a different story.
Qinwen almost made things difficult for herself in the second set, but she still avoided a dangerous third set, closing out the match against the Czech with a final score of 6-3, 7-5. In the first set, the Olympic champion made do with the break she scored at the start, because she didn’t give her rival any chance. Ahead by two breaks and in total control in the second set, the Australian Open finalist probably felt a bit of tension. Krejcikova glimpsed the chance to get back into the match and, point after point, matched the score, regaining confidence. The Chinese, however, was able to regain control and, on 5-5, she scored the knockout break: the Czech was betrayed once again by her forehand. The young American Coco Gauff will compete for the title against Zheng.
Qinwen, after beating Krejcikova and reaching the final in Riyadh, analyzed in the on-court interview her emotions for having reached such a milestone in her first participation in the year-end Master.
“Being in the final for my first time in my career at the WTA Finals is so special. This is my first time in the year-end Master and now I’m in the final. It’s incredible. Barbora is a really good player. We played a good match. I don’t know what happened when I was leading 3-0. I want to thank all the fans for the support. You created a fantastic atmosphere,” explained the young Chinese.
Zheng d. Krejcikova 6-3 7-5 in Riyadh
Qinwen was up 6-3 3-0, but Barbora made her work for it.
She’s had a phenomenal end to 2024.
Olympic Gold.
US Open QF.
Beijing SF.
Wuhan F.
Tokyo Champ.Add the final of the WTA Finals to the list.
✅6th top 10 win of 2024
🇨🇳❤️ pic.twitter.com/23S4E4tmWi
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 8, 2024