RIYADH: China’s Zheng Qinwen reached the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh after claiming an impressive 6-1, 6-1 win over Italian fourth seed Jasmine Paolini on Wednesday.

In her WTA Finals debut, the 22-year-old became the youngest player to reach the semi-finals since Petra Kvitova in 2011.

Seventh seed Zheng fired 12 aces in a dominant performance, recording her 30th win from 34 matches played since Wimbledon.

“It’s one of the best performances I had during this year,” she said on court. “Really good percentage of first serves. I enjoyed a lot tonight to play here.”

Picking up a 30th win from her last 35 matches, the Chinese Olympic gold medallist won 77% of her first-serve points as she became the second Chinese woman to reach the last four of the WTA Finals after Li Na.

“[This was] almost 11 years ago. I’m proud I could make it,” Zheng said. “I didn’t know what would happen when I came here because it’s my first time. I just told myself to enjoy. Especially because I’m in a really difficult group. Thanks to all the fans who came to watch me tonight. Thanks for all your support.”

Zheng finishes second in the purple round-robin group behind top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who secured her semi-final berth by beating Paolini on Monday.

In her final group match on Wednesday, the world number one came back from a set down against fifth seed Elena Rybakina before losing to the Kazakh 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

An aggressive return earned Zheng her first break of the match in game three and the seventh seed doubled her advantage to go up 5-1.

Paolini saved a set point on her own serve in game seven but Zheng kept her foot on the pedal and closed out the set on her second opportunity.

The second set was just as impressive from Zheng and after saving a break point while serving for the match at 5-1, she wrapped up the encounter with her 12th ace of the match.

It was Zheng’s fourth victory in as many meetings with Paolini, who won’t leave Riyadh just yet as she continues to fight for a semi-final spot in doubles alongside fellow Italian Sara Errani.

PEGULA WITHDRAWS

Tournament organisers annou­nced on Wednesday that American sixth seed Jessica Pegula had withdrawn with a left knee injury.

A runner-up at the WTA Finals last year, Pegula lost her opening two matches in Saudi Arabia in straight sets and had no chance of advancing to the semi-finals.

The US Open finalist was due to face defending champion Iga Swiatek in the last day of round-robin action in the orange group on Thursday and will now be replaced by Daria Kasatkina on the schedule.

It is a must-win match for world number two Swiatek to stay in the hunt for a spot in the semi-finals.

The Pole will look to rebound from her loss to Coco Gauff and also needs the already-qualified Ameri­can to beat Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova to advance.

Kasatkina is ranked number nine in the world and recently clinched the WTA 500 title in Ningbo.

She is 1-5 head-to-head against Swiatek, losing her last five consecutive clashes with the Pole.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2024