Zheng Qinwen improved her possibilities of advancing to the semi-finals on the WTA Finals. File photograph
| Picture Credit score: Alberto Pezzali
Zheng Qinwen improved her possibilities of advancing to the semi-finals on the WTA Finals with a 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-1 victory over world quantity 5 Elena Rybakina in Riyadh on Monday.
The seventh-seeded Zheng rebounded from her opening round-robin defeat by Aryna Sabalenka by claiming her first win from three conferences with Rybakina.
In the meantime, Rybakina suffered a second defeat in as many matches this week in Saudi Arabia and is going through elimination, with yet another round-robin conflict to go towards Sabalenka on Wednesday.
Throughout her on-court interview, Zheng apologised to the Chinese language followers within the stands for “dropping management” of her feelings at one level in the course of the match, admitting she was “harsh” in her response to them, and thanked them for his or her assist.
“I am actually completely satisfied to have gained this match as a result of I by no means beat her earlier than and she or he’s one of many best gamers proper now on tour, big serve and nice groundstrokes,” mentioned Zheng.
“I did not take my possibilities within the second set however I used to be capable of come again within the third and I stayed centered.
“I needed to keep actually centered on my service video games, as a result of right here, each of us are destroying our serves, it is actually robust to return.”
Zheng arrives in Riyadh on the again of a powerful second half of the season that noticed her win titles in Palermo and Tokyo, and an Olympic gold medal in singles in Paris. No girl has gained extra matches than her inside that span.
The primary Chinese language participant to qualify for the WTA Finals since Li Na in 2013, Zheng amassed a 12-2 win-loss document in the course of the Asian swing final month and is the tour chief in most aces struck and share of first-serve factors gained.
Rybakina’s second a part of 2024 couldn’t have been extra totally different.
The Kazakh had performed simply two matches between Wimbledon and the WTA Finals as she struggled with allergic reactions, insomnia, and a again harm.
After saving a pair of break factors on her personal serve within the third sport, Zheng made her transfer, breaking Rybakina en path to a 4-1 benefit.
Rybakina worn out her deficit, attacking Zheng’s second serve, and was quickly on stage phrases at 4-4.
The set fittingly went to a tie-break which Zheng sealed on an extended forehand from Rybakina on the 58-minute mark.
In a sample just like the opening set, Zheng carved out a lead within the second body, just for Rybakina to strike again and even the rating. This time although, the big-hitter took 4 video games in a row to say the second set and drive a decider.
Zheng shook off early bother on her serve within the remaining set earlier than surging forward 4-1. It was the enhance she wanted to wrap up the win — the ninth of her profession towards a top-10 opponent.
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Revealed – November 05, 2024 03:17 am IST
