Zheng concluded the final with one ace, then collapsed onto the court amidst cheers from the home crowd. After her acceptance speech, she sang for the spectators, capping a journey that the world number 54 began as a wildcard.
"The feeling is amazing. Winning in Beijing in front of my home crowd was one of my dreams", Zheng said. "I've had a difficult year."
This marks Zheng's first WTA 1000 title and her sixth career championship. The victory ends a two-year title drought, following a period where she struggled with form and fitness. The Chinese player underwent elbow surgery last year and faced challenges regaining her competitive edge over the past 12 months.
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Zheng Qinwen poses with the trophy after defeating Mirra Andreeva in the women's singles final of the China Open at Capital Group Diamond, National Tennis Center, Beijing, China, on 11/10/2026. Photo: AP |
Zheng Qinwen poses with the trophy after defeating Mirra Andreeva in the women's singles final of the China Open at Capital Group Diamond, National Tennis Center, Beijing, China, on 11/10/2026. Photo: AP
Against fourth seed Andreeva, Zheng trailed 0-2 in both sets but managed to reverse the situation each time. The biggest turning point came at the end of the first set, when the Russian player led 5-4 and had three opportunities to win the set.
Zheng saved all three set-points, then won 11 consecutive points to take the first set 7-5. From the brink of defeat, she gained an advantage by maintaining composure during crucial points.
Andreeva continued to take an early lead in the second set but could not maintain her advantage. With the score tied at 4-4, errors from the 19-year-old player created an opportunity for Zheng to pull ahead.
The Beijing spectators cheered passionately, though at times they disrupted the match with noise between points. One double fault from Zheng late in the match increased the tension, but she did not lose her advantage and closed out the match with her serve.
The victory over Andreeva is Zheng's 14th win against a top 10 opponent, and her third this season. The championship is expected to help the reigning Olympic champion rise 31 places to 23rd in the world when the WTA rankings are updated on 12/10. Despite the loss, Andreeva is projected to climb to number three in the world.
The China Open is a WTA 1000 event, the highest level of the annual women's tour outside of Grand Slams and the WTA Finals. The tournament has seen many notable names crowned champions, including Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, and Iga Swiatek, but no Chinese female player had won it before Zheng.
Vy Anh
