Zheng Qinwen Battles Back to Reach Australian Open Semifinals

No.12 seed Zheng Qinwen displayed her fighting spirit as she overturned a set deficit to secure her place in the semifinals of the Australian Open. After a challenging battle lasting 2 hours and 20 minutes, Zheng triumphed over Anna Kalinskaya with a score of 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1. This remarkable victory marks Zheng’s first-ever Grand Slam semifinal appearance, following her breakthrough quarterfinal performance at the US Open last year.

The skilled Chinese player is now part of a prestigious group of Chinese major semifinalists, consisting of two-time Grand Slam champion Li Na and two-time major semifinalist Zheng Jie. Zheng’s achievement is a testament to her talent and determination on the court.

In addition to her remarkable success at the Australian Open, Zheng is set to make her Top 10 debut in the upcoming WTA rankings. This accomplishment will make her the second Chinese player, alongside Li Na, to achieve such a high ranking in the tennis world. Zheng’s recent wins at the Hologic WTA Tour events in Palermo and Zhengzhou, where she clinched her first two titles, contributed to her recognition as the Most Improved Player of the Year.

Zheng’s next challenge in the semifinals will be against Dayana Yastremska, who also secured her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal spot. This encounter between two rising stars promises an intriguing battle on the court. Interestingly, Zheng and Yastremska join the esteemed group of young players born in 2000 or later who have reached the semifinals of a major, including Amanda Anisimova, Bianca Andreescu, Iga Swiatek, Emma Raducanu, Leylah Fernandez, and Coco Gauff.

During her quarterfinal match against Kalinskaya, Zheng faced early setbacks as her opponent showcased excellent form on crucial points. Despite taking two early breaks in the first set, Zheng was unable to maintain the advantage as Kalinskaya promptly broke back. Demonstrating her ability to anticipate Zheng’s powerful shots, Kalinskaya skillfully deflected her opponent’s attacks and secured the first set in a tiebreak, winning six of the last seven points.

However, Zheng made crucial adjustments in the following sets, particularly with her first-serve percentage. Her improved serving helped her avoid facing any break points after the first set. With 61% and 63% of her first serves finding the mark in the second and third sets respectively, Zheng demonstrated both power and precision on her serve. She also minimized errors, conceding only seven points in the second set and a mere three points in the final set.

Kalinskaya displayed resilience in the second set, matching Zheng’s strong serves for a significant portion of the set. However, she faltered when serving at 3-4, offering Zheng a crucial break point opportunity that proved decisive. Zheng then showcased her dominance, winning the last six consecutive games and accumulating an impressive total of 42 winners, including 10 aces, throughout the match.