Zheng Qinwen has carried China into new territory at the China Open, defeating Elise Mertens in the Beijing semifinals to become the first home player to reach the tournament’s final since the event began in 2004. The wild card will face fourth seed Mirra Andreeva on Sunday on Diamond Court, with a WTA 1000 title and a place in tournament history at stake.
The match
Zheng closed strongly against Mertens, taking eight of the last 10 games to secure her second career WTA 1000 final. It was another statement in a remarkable Beijing run for the former Top 5 player, who has spent more time on court here than anyone at any tournament this season: 13 hours and 33 minutes across six matches.
The World No. 54 began with four successive three-set victories, including wins over Anna Kalinskaya and Marie Bouzkova, before producing straight-set victories over Elina Svitolina and Mertens. Against Mertens, Zheng struck 32 winners against 16 unforced errors, landed eight aces and won 73 percent of her service points. Her first-serve points won rate reached 88 percent, while she faced only two break points.
Her attacking numbers have been exceptional throughout the fortnight. Zheng has hit 219 winners in Beijing, more than any player at a single event this season, while her 47 aces are the third-highest total at one tournament in 2026. Only Elena Rybakina, with 54 at the US Open and 49 in Toronto, has served more aces at an event this year.
Since a training period in Florida after the start of the US Open, Zheng has won 13 of 14 matches. Her momentum now brings her within reach of a return to the Top 30 of the PIF WTA Rankings.
Andreeva reached the final with a 6-2, 6-2 semifinal win over Nikola Bartunkova, extending her run of consecutive sets won in Beijing to 10. The World No. 5 recorded 16 winners and 10 unforced errors in a 74-minute performance, converting five of 10 break points.
That gave Andreeva 301 successful break-point conversions for the season, the leading figure on the WTA Tour. She qualified for the WTA Finals on Friday and is projected to rise to a career-best No. 3 next week.
At 19, Andreeva will enter her fifth final of the season, having won three of her previous four title matches in 2026, including her first major crown at Roland Garros. She has also had a considerably lighter route through Beijing, winning four straight matches in straight sets and playing five fewer sets than Zheng.
The next round
Sunday’s final will be the second WTA Tour meeting between Zheng and Andreeva. Zheng won their only previous encounter at the China Open, recovering from a set down to beat Andreeva 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 in the 2024 quarterfinals.
Andreeva expects Zheng to have overwhelming support on Diamond Court but said she is comfortable with the challenge of facing a local favourite.
“I have experience of playing local players,” Andreeva said. “I think it will be fine. Obviously, everybody knows she is at home, and that is OK.”
The final sets Zheng’s powerful serving and first-strike tennis against Andreeva’s returning strength. Zheng’s 47 aces in six matches and Andreeva’s tour-leading break-point total offer sharply contrasting routes to the Beijing trophy.
