(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Qinwen Zheng made it to the final of the Palermo Ladies Open on Saturday. The second seed from China needed three sets to beat third seed Mayar Sherif 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 after three hours and a minute of play.Of the two contestants, Zheng was the one with the most aces and double faults.
She had nine aces to the Egyptian’s zero and seven double faults to the latter’s solitary number. Sherif did put in a high percentage of first serves – 78% to Zheng’s 48%. But the latter won 72% of her first-serve points to Sherif’s 51%.
The world no. 26 saved four of the eight break points she faced while converting six break points on Sherif’s serve. Zheng, however, dropped her serve only across the first two sets. In the deciding set, she saved both break points she faced while converting both break point chances she had on her opponent’s serve.
The 20-year-old finished the match with 98 points to her opponent’s 85.In the final, Zheng will play fifth seed Jasmine Paolini. The Italian ensured that there was a home player for the second consecutive year of the Italian tournament.
Paolini defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-6(6), 6-0 in an hour and 49 minutes in their…
