December 22, 2024
Zheng Qinwen impressive 2024 season continued at the WTA Finals on Monday.
The 22-year-old Chinese player claimed her first ever victory against Elena Rybakina in three attempts 7-6 3-6 6-1 to record her first victory in Riyadh.
“I’m really happy to win this match. I never beat her before,” Qinwen Zheng on beating Elena Rybakina.
“She’s one of the greatest players on the tour right now. She has a huge serve and great groundstrokes. I’m just happy today I gave my best.”
After a first hard fought first set, Zheng fall in the second set 3-6 but then should great strength and overcome her struggles against her Kazakhstani opponent in the third set.
“I think to stay focused in your service game,” Zheng said on the key for turning things around in the third set.
”Both of us are destroying our serves. It’s really tough to return. Just taurine to hold every single point,” she concluded.
This felt like another “home” game for Zheng, as the crowd at King Saud University Arena was solidly behind her. There were eight Chinese flags being waved vigorously during changeovers and supportive chants occasionally broke out.
“Fans yelling my nickname, like I am in China,” Zheng said after her first-round loss to Sabalenka. “Few fans quite crazy, always screaming so hard my name.”
With the victory, the Zheng has become only the second Chinese player to win a match at the WTA Finals after Li Na Since the event’s inauguration in 1972.
Qinwen Zheng has become the first Chinese player in the Open Era to secure 50 WTA-level match wins in a calendar year moving to a win-loss record of 50-17 in 2024.
With 2 defeats in Riyadh already, Elena Rybakina will be eliminated if World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka beats Jasmine Paolini later in the day.
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