Zheng Qinwen’s remarkable run in the second half of 2024 continues unabated as the Paris Olympics champion has stormed into the semifinals of the WTA Finals on her debut.
In a decisive match at Riyadh, Zheng displayed her dominance with a resounding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Jasmine Paolini. This triumph marked her 30th win from 34 matches since Wimbledon, solidifying her status as one of the most formidable players on the circuit.
Zheng’s victory secured her second place in the Purple Group behind world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The Chinese star attributed her success to her exceptional serving performance, stating, “It’s one of the best performances I had during this year. Really good percentage of first serves. I enjoyed a lot tonight to play here.”
Zheng’s dominance was evident from the outset as she broke Paolini in the third game and maintained her momentum throughout the match. Her powerful serves kept the Italian guessing, while her aggressive returns forced Paolini into numerous errors.
The 22-year-old’s relentless pressure paid dividends as she converted five breaks of serve during the encounter. On match point, Zheng unleashed her 12th ace to seal the victory after a mere 68 minutes.
Zheng’s impressive statistics reflect her dominance: she finished with 24 winners to just 14 unforced errors and won an astonishing 77 percent of her first-serve points. Her performance has drawn comparisons to Li Na, the only other Chinese woman to advance out of the round-robin stage of the year-end event, who finished as runner-up in 2013.
Zheng’s victory is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She has emerged as a rising star in the tennis world and is poised to make a significant impact on the sport in the years to come.
