By Alberto Amalfi | Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Zheng Qinwen defeated Donna Vekic 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 in a dramatic two hour, 53-minute victory at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.
Photo credit: Zhengzhou Open Facebook
This fall season is Zheng Qinwen's time to rise.
The 21-year-old Chinese took home fans on a thrill ride fending off Donna Vekic 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 in a dramatic two hour, 53-minute victory at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.
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It was the opening round-robin match of the Orchid Group and Zheng brought her best at critical stages.
Zheng zapped five of her 12 aces in the final set as she fought back from a 2-4 deficit in the decisive set. Zheng broke back at 30 for 4-all.
World No. 18 Zheng converted her third match point breaking again to seal her sixth straight win. Zheng has won 10 of her last 12 matches, including capturing her second title in Zhengzhou earlier this month, with her lone losses in that span coming to Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open quarterfinals and to 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the Beijing opener.
Earlier, Daria Kasatkina raced out to a 5-0 lead in the decisive set outlasting top-seeded Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 1-6, 6-1.
The 17th-ranked Kastakina avenged a 6-3, 6-0 loss to Krejcikova in the Zhengzhou semifinals earlier this month, beating the former French Open singles and doubles champion for the first time since Adelaide 2 last January.
No. 9-seeded Caroline Garcia withstood 12 aces from Madison Keys, eliminating the second-seeded American 6-3, 7-6(3) on the strength of a single service break.