On October 27th, in the final of the WTA 500 event in Tokyo, top seed Zheng Qinwen secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Sofia Kenin to claim the championship. This marks her first tour title since the Paris Olympics and her third title of the season, as well as the fifth of her career. For the 22-year-old, 2024 is shaping up to be a remarkable year.
Following her victory at the Paris Olympics, Zheng has been in the spotlight at every tournament. She reached the semifinals of the China Open and subsequently finished as the runner-up at the Wuhan Open. As the number one seed in the WTA Tokyo event, Zheng had high expectations.
Reflecting on her path to the finals, Zheng showcased impressive strength throughout the tournament. In the quarterfinals, she defeated the eighth seed, Leylah Fernandez, marking her third appearance in a row in the semifinals during the Asian swing. This victory also highlighted her 45th tour win of the season, setting a new record for the most wins in a single season by a Chinese player.
In the final match against former Australian Open champion Kenin, both players started off strong, maintaining their serves through the first 12 games, which led to a tiebreaker. Zheng’s performance in the tiebreak was exceptional, and she narrowly took the first set 7-6.
During the second set, Zheng broke Kenin’s serve in the second game, establishing a lead that she maintained despite her opponent’s efforts to come back. She sealed the victory with a 6-3 win, clinching the championship with a final score of 2-0.
For Zheng, the 2024 season has been extraordinarily fruitful. She reached the finals of the Australian Open earlier this year, finishing as the runner-up and achieving her best Grand Slam result. At the Paris Olympics, despite being considered an underdog, Zheng made history by winning the first Olympic singles gold medal for Chinese tennis.
With this hard-earned honor, Zheng continues to strive for excellence on the court. Although she didn’t take home the trophy at the recent events in Beijing and Wuhan, she consistently improved her performance in WTA 1000 tournaments.
Currently ranked seventh in the world, Zheng has qualified for the WTA Year-End Championships, becoming the second Chinese player in history to reach this prestigious event after Li Na. The WTA Finals are considered the pinnacle of the season, reserved for those who have excelled throughout the year. For Zheng, this will be her first appearance, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Recently, she celebrated her 22nd birthday, an age that implies vast potential for growth in women’s tennis. Fans and critics alike are excited to see what the future holds for Zheng.
After finishing as the runner-up in Wuhan, Zheng shared on Weibo, “There is no endpoint in the pursuit of dreams.” Securing her title in Tokyo is yet another important chapter in her career. We eagerly await her continued breakthroughs and the surprises she will bring in the future!
