By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday October 13 2023
China's Zheng Qinwen reached her first semifinal on home soil. Barbora Krejcikova also advanced.
Photo Source: Zhengzhou Open
China’s Zheng Qinwen is enjoying the good life on home soil. The winner of the gold medal at the Asian games powered into the semis at Zhengzhou, dispatching Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-2 in 86 minutes to reach her first semifinal on home soil.
“I’m really happy to be here first of all, but second I want to also stay focused on the next match because this is not the end, the tournament is still continuing and there is no rest between the days so I will just keep my focus for the next match,” Zheng said.
Zheng, who will face Jasmine Paolini for a spot in the final, backed up her win over third-seeded Maria Sakkari with a performance that featured 32 winners, eight aces and just 20 unforced errors.
The 21-year-old racks up her 30th win of the 2023 season, and reaches her third semifinal of the season.
Zheng defeated Paolini in three sets to claim her maiden title in Palermo this summer, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.
"That’s a different story because that was a clay court and right now we are on hard court, so the game will be totally changed,” Zheng said as she looked ahead to hear second career meeting with Paolini. “Obviously the crowd this time will be on my side and how to use that in a positive way is what I have to learn. It was a tough battle but I’m just going to focus on every point, don’t think about the result, the target is there but you have to focus on the moment.”
Krejcikova, Kasatkina to Clash
Daria Kasatkina, the No.8 seed, gained safe passage into the semis without lifting her racquet on Friday as Ons Jabeur gave her a walkover due to a knee injury.
Seventh-seeded Barbora Krejcikova had to play, but her quarterfinal with Lesia Tsurenko didn’t last too long as the 34-year-old Ukrainian retired with a lower back injury after dropping the opening set, 6-3.
Krejcikova owns a 2-1 lifetime edge against Kasatkina and the pair have split their two meetings in 2023.
"I feel good, I feel healthy so I expect it’s going to be a great match and I’m looking forward to play her,” the 2021 Roland-Garros champion said. “I think she’s going to run a lot and try to change the pace, this is basically her game and she plays it well. So I am going to try to plan the strategy to eliminate her weapons.”
Krejcikova, into her fourth semifinal of 2023, improves to 30-16 on the season with her win; Kasatkina enters Saturday’s semis with a 37-23 record on the year.