Zheng Qinwen has become the first home player to win the China Open in what is also her first title triumph since returning from surgery last year.
Zheng, who received a wild card into the tournament, produced a stunning 7-5, 6-4 win over reigning French Open champion Mirra Andreeva. The 24-year-old has beaten a seeded player in five out of six matches played in the tournament and was taken to the full distance in three of those encounters.
In the final, Zheng faced a stern test, particularly in the first set. During the opener, she came back from a break down and then saved a trio of set points when behind 4-5. Impressively, she sealed the 7-5 lead by winning eight points in a row.
During the second frame, the home favourite failed to keep hold of a break advantage early on before breaking once again in the penultimate game and then serving it out.
“The feeling was incredible to win here in Beijing… in front of my home crowd is one of my dreams,” Zheng said during the trophy ceremony.
“I’ve been through a very, very tough year,” she added.
It is the first time the 23-year-old has won a WTA title since undergoing elbow surgery in July 2025, which left her able to play only two matches over seven months. Since returning, she reached the quarter-finals of a WTA 250 event in Athens, the quarter-finals of the US Open (as a qualifier), and then triumphed in China.
“I want to say congratulations for the Roland Garros you [Andreeva] won; that was an amazing achievement. I never had the chance to say congratulations to you. And secondly, congratulations for this week in reaching the final,” she said.
“You are such a young player, very talented, and congrats to your team.”
Runner-up Andreeva can also draw positives from her time in Beijing. On Monday she will break into the world’s top three for the first time, becoming the third-youngest WTA player to do so this century after Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters.
“I think overall of course it was a good tournament,” The WTA website quotes Andreeva as saying. “I mean, a lot of positives to take from these two weeks. Of course, I felt like today just wasn’t meant to be. I think after also talking with Conchita, I will be able to look onto this match maybe from a different perspective and see maybe some good things.”
Zheng will also enjoy a jump in the standings. She will return to the top 30 for the first time since March.
