Zheng beat fourth seed Mirra Andreeva 7–5, 6–4 in Beijing on the evening of October 11, becoming the China Open's first Chinese women's singles winner. It was her first WTA 1000, sixth tour singles title and first since Tokyo in 2024.
Three set points saved before turning the opener
Andreeva led 2–0 before Zheng broke back. At 4–5 in game ten, Zheng faced three set points on serve, saved all, held and broke before taking it 7–5. WTA recorded her winning the set's last eleven points.
Both broke early in set two then held to 4–4. Zheng broke game nine for 5–4, then fell 0–30 serving for the title. Four straight points and an ace completed the match in one hour 43 minutes.
From four three-set wins to three straight-sets rounds
Zheng played three sets in her first four rounds and two in the last three. She told WTA she needed active attack, error control and courage at key moments. Andreeva praised her serve, saying aggressive returns brought too many misses without rhythm.
Zheng is also the first wildcard women's champion since the event resumed in 2004. Entering at No. 54 after falling to 160 earlier this year, she will return to the top thirty. The title marks rebuilding form and adds a previously missing WTA 1000.
Women's singles final score
| Player | First set | Second set |
|---|---|---|
| Zheng Qinwen | 7 | 6 |
| Mirra Andreeva | 5 | 4 |
INKA SPORTS analysis: Two pressured service games alter the final
Straight sets do not imply control from the start. Losing serve at 4–5 would have required a comeback from a set down. Holding kept her in the set, and the next break transferred the pressure to her opponent. Similarly, holding from 0–30 in the final game prevented the new break advantage vanishing.
Andreeva's account adds perspective: aggressive returning lacked reliable control, making Zheng's serve support the key holds. It fits Zheng's attack-and-error balance: remain proactive while requiring an attacking returner to accept risk.
Conclusion
The first WTA 1000 came through saving set points and breaking, then protecting a title-serving break. After four three-set rounds and three straight-set rounds, Zheng converted key-game execution into a trophy and ranking recovery.
