Zheng Qinwen Becomes First Chinese Woman to Win China Open Title

Andreeva initially took a 2-0 lead after breaking Zheng early, but Zheng later fought back, leveling the set. She saved three set points in the 10th game of a tightly contested first set before winning the last 11 points. After the players exchanged breaks early in the second set, Zheng secured a late break in the ninth game and held her serve to finish with a 7-5, 6-4 victory in 1 hour and 43 minutes.

"Honestly after winning this title, I felt like finally I achieved it, finally I once again become the one who is making new history," Zheng stated. "I always wanted to beat myself because everyone was asking me how great I achieved in 2024. I always say that the best is yet to come."

This victory marks Zheng's first WTA 1000 title and her sixth overall on the WTA Tour. It is also her first title since winning in Tokyo in late 2024, allowing her to return to the top 30 in the world rankings next week, having fallen to No. 160 mid-season.

Reflecting on her comeback, Zheng said, "When I was at my lowest moment, everyone was saying I couldn't come back. Everyone had doubts about me. Finally, after many losses, I was able to find my fire again when playing matches. Tennis is not just about hitting the balls; it's also about how much you want to win. I am just so grateful that I found the inside fire back. Right now I'm trying to reach the best version of myself."

At 24 years old and ranked No. 54, Zheng became the first wildcard to win the event since its reinauguration in 2004, as well as the lowest-ranked player to win the title during that time. Throughout the tournament, she won her first four matches in three sets and completed her final three matches in straight sets.

Zheng dropped 78 games on her way to the title, the highest number by a player winning a Tier I or WTA 1000 event since the format was introduced in 1990, exceeding the 66 games dropped by Belinda Bencic in Toronto in 2015. Only Madison Keys, who dropped 87 games at the Australian Open in 2025, has a higher count in the Open Era.

Zheng noted the challenges she faced in each match, stating, "Every match had different difficult points. I battled my opponents and myself. I need to be aggressive but also control my errors. At critical moments, I cannot be soft. I’m really happy I figured that out."

Zheng's victory over Andreeva marked her 14th career win against a top-10 opponent and her third this season. Andreeva, projected to rise to No. 3 in the rankings, praised Zheng's performance, acknowledging her own missed opportunities in the final.

"I think, of course, she’s a great server," Andreeva said. "Today I missed a lot of returns trying to be more aggressive. I’ll look at this match and learn from it. It’s great to see her coming back. I believe she will raise her level even more soon."

Zheng expressed ambition for her future, stating she believes there is more to achieve. "I want to reach all my goals without regrets when I retire. I'm hungry for what is to come in my career because I know my potential, and I want to give everything I have to tennis."

Despite her defeat, Andreeva will become the third-youngest player this century to reach the WTA top three, behind only Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters, and acknowledged the positive aspects of her tournament experience.