Qinwen Zheng has metabolized well the defeat against Aryna Sabalenka in the first match of the round robin of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, because, since that match, the young Chinese has shown very convincing tennis, winning three consecutive matches and guaranteeing herself the final of the year-end Master, that is being played in Saudi Arabia.
And she did it at her first career participation at the WTA Finals. Zheng deservedly defeated the winner of Wimbledon Barbora Krejcikova and equaled the best result achieved by a Chinese in the event, replicating what Li Na did in 2013. Zheng, however, will try to change the ending by writing a different story.
Qinwen almost made things difficult for herself in the second set, but she still avoided a dangerous third set, closing out the match against the Czech with a final score of 6-3, 7-5. In the first set, the Olympic champion made do with the break she scored at the start, because she didn’t give her rival any chance. Ahead by two breaks and in total control in the second set, the Australian Open finalist probably felt a bit of tension. Krejcikova glimpsed the chance to get back into the match and, point after point, matched the score, regaining confidence. The Chinese, however, was able to regain control and, on 5-5, she scored…
