By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 28, 2023
Zheng Qinwen hit 12 aces topping Zhu Lin 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to score her eighth straight win and set up a Zhuhai final vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Photo credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty
Marathon matches don't faze Zheng Qinwen.
Pained by an apparent leg issue, Zheng still showed committed closing kick in Zhuhai.
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In the first all Chinese semifinal in WTA Elite Trophy history, Zheng zapped 12 aces defeating Zhu Lin 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to score her eighth straight win and charge into the Zhuhai final.
The seventh-ranked Zheng saved two set points in the opening set, shook off that leg issue that required a medical time-out in the second set, then won the final three games of the decider to close a dramatic three hour, 19-minute conquest. Zheng joins 2018 finalist Wang Qiang as just the second Chinese woman to reach the Zhuhai title match.
Zhengzhou champion Zheng has scored all eight wins during this streak on home soil and has shown the grit and guts to go the distance. Zheng raised her three-set record to 16-6 on the season reaching her fourth career final.
The 19th-ranked Zheng, who has spent 8 hours, 12 minutes on court reaching the final, will play for her third title of the season when she takes on 18th-ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia in tomorrow's final.
Earlier, the No. 8-seeded Haddad Maia crushed Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 6-1.
Zhuhai débutante Haddad Maia reeled off eight of the last night games to book a spot in her first singles final of the season without surrendering a set.
The 12th-seeded Zhu broke to open today’s all-Chinese semifinal, eventually extending to leads of 3-1 and 4-2.
Serving for the set at 5-4, Zhu earned two set points—at 40-30 and again at Ad-In—but could not close. Zheng broke back sparking a run of three straight games as she won eight of the last 10 points to build a one-set lead.
Rallies intensified with physicality as Zhu broke for a 4-3 second-set lead before backing up the break for 5-3.
After Zheng held for 4-5, she left the court for a medical timeout to treat an apparent leg injury.
When play resumed, Zhu laced an ace. Zhu converted her second set point on a Zheng error to snatch the second set and force a decider. Zhu served 71 percent and broke twice taking a demanding 70-minute second set.
Reading the Zhu serve, Zheng spun a backhand return winner down the line for a third break point in her opponent’s opening service game.
Spreading the court, Zheng drew a netted error to break for a 2-0 lead in the decider.
Zheng slashed her 10th ace for game points and hit a kick serve out wide to confirm the break for a 3-0 lead.
Playing with more spin and sting on her shots, Zheng stepped in and scorched a forehand winner down the line breaking at love for 5-1.