China’s rising tennis star, Zheng Qinwen, took a decisive step forward at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, overcoming Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 7-5 to book her place in the final. In her first appearance at this prestigious tournament, the 22-year-old Olympic gold medalist showed her mettle by breaking early and holding her lead against the Czech eighth seed, securing a spot in Saturday’s championship match against American Coco Gauff.
Zheng dominated from the outset, racing to a 3-0 lead in both sets with aggressive serving and clean power strokes. Despite Krejcikova’s attempts to rally—saving three set points at 5-2—Zheng kept her composure, wrapping up the first set with an ace. The second set saw Krejcikova mount a comeback, winning four straight games to level the score at 5-5. Yet, Zheng held her nerve, breaking Krejcikova once more before serving out the match with her ninth ace of the day, bringing her tournament total to an impressive 35.
Afterward, Zheng reflected on her journey since the Olympics and the struggles she faced earlier in the season, including disappointing performances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. “I feel everything is real,” she shared. “After Wimbledon, I had a big struggle. Even though I was the Olympic champion, I tried to keep my mentality stable. Seems like it’s working; I still keep the motivation high.”
Zheng’s stats showcase her powerful form, with 23 winners and nine aces offset by just 24 unforced errors. Krejcikova, visibly fatigued after a challenging season and recent back issues, managed 13 winners but also committed 29 unforced errors, highlighting the defensive strain Zheng’s offense imposed on her.
This final showdown marks Zheng’s 32nd win out of 37 matches since Wimbledon, making her one of the tour’s most consistent players this season. She’ll face Coco Gauff, who upset World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the other semifinal, setting the stage for an exciting finale.
With both Zheng and Gauff aiming for their first WTA Finals title and a record-breaking $4.8 million prize, fans can expect a battle of powerful baselines and tenacity in Riyadh’s last match of the season. Who will take the title—Olympic champion Zheng or the surging young American Gauff? The answer awaits in Saturday’s final.
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