By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday October 15, 2023
Zheng Qinwen rallied from a set down to defeat Barbora Krejcikova and win her first 500-level title on Sunday in Zhengzhou.
Photo Source: Zhengzhou Open
Zheng Qinwen really loves home cooking.
The rising Chinese has made the most of her time on home soil this autumn, claiming a gold medal at the Asian Games two weeks ago, and claiming her first 500-level title – and second overall – on Sunday in Zhengzhou.
Zheng, who defeated seventh-seeded Barbora Krejcikova, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, also notches her first title on Chinese soil.
The 21-year-old had to battle extremely hard for it. She lost a lopsided opening set but rallied to force a decider. After a trade of breaks took the pair to 4-4 in the final set, Zheng broke things open by winning eight of the last ten points
24th-ranked Zheng, the 18th unseeded title winner on the WTA Tour in 2023, and the third at a 500 event, is the third Chinese woman to win a title at 500 level or higher, along with Li Na and Zheng Saisai.
"Finally I have a chance to play in my country," Zheng said after her win. "There were a lot of up and downs but the important thing is to win the match whatever happens and right now I’m just feeling super happy and want to enjoy the time with my team.
"When I was on the court finishing the last point I was feeling super happy and all the crowd was shouting for me, they were fully supporting me, in that moment the feeling was unexplainable. At the end I’m really happy to win this match and beat such a great opponent in the final."
Zheng improves to 32-18 on the season and 7-13 against the Top-20.
The 21-year-old cracked two aces and a forehand winner to earn championship point, then converted her first match point to lock up the triumph in two hours and 26 minutes.
No.1 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe took the doubles title, defeating No.3 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara 6-2, 6-4 in 71 minutes.