Zheng wins a tight second-set tiebreak
Zheng Qinwen advanced to the China Open semifinals in Beijing on October 9 with a 6–3, 7–6(6) victory over sixth seed Elina Svitolina. She closed the match on her second match point after one hour and 47 minutes.
Zheng broke serve immediately and went ahead 2–0. Two further breaks helped her take the opening set, but the second offered no such opening: both players held throughout, sending it to a tiebreak that Zheng won 8–6.
The result extended her recent run to 12 victories in 13 matches. Beijing was her first tournament since reaching the US Open quarterfinals after coming through qualifying.
The WTA identified the win as Zheng’s fourth career WTA 1000 semifinal appearance. For a player who had fallen to No. 160 during the season, it marked another substantial step in a recovery built across successive tournaments.