Zheng Qinwen made history on Saturday by defeating Elise Mertens, becoming the first Chinese finalist in the China Open's history, which began in 2004. Zheng secured her spot in the final by winning eight of the last ten games against Mertens, marking her second career WTA 1000 final and potentially propelling her back into the Top 30 of the PIF WTA Rankings.
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Zheng will face Mirra Andreeva in the final, who swept past Nikola Bartunkova with a dominant score of 6-2, 6-2. This match will be Andreeva's chance to claim her third WTA 1000 title.
**The Case for Mirra Andreeva**
As the fourth seed, Andreeva is favored to win. She has not lost a set in her last ten games at this tournament and advanced to the final after a strong semifinal performance, allowing only four games against Bartunkova. Her statistics from that match include 16 winners and 10 unforced errors, showcasing her efficiency and strong return game. The World No. 5 also converted five of ten break-point opportunities during the semifinal, bringing her season total to 301 break points, the highest in the WTA Tour.
At just 19, Andreeva brings significant experience in high-stakes matches, having reached her fifth title match of the season and won three titles, including her first major at Roland Garros. Her recent matches have been shorter, giving her a physical advantage, as she has played five fewer sets than Zheng.
Despite the crowd likely supporting Zheng as a home favorite in Beijing, Andreeva is accustomed to competing in such environments and remains unfazed by local support.
**The Case for Zheng Qinwen**
Zheng, ranked World No. 54, has a home advantage that could empower her during the final. She entered the tournament as a wild card and fought through four intense three-set matches, defeating Anna Kalinskaya and Marie Bouzkova in upsets. Those challenges may have bolstered her confidence, as evidenced by her straight-set victories over Elina Svitolina and Mertens, where she played aggressively and controlled the match with 32 winners against 16 unforced errors. In her semifinal, Zheng won 73 percent of her service points and hit eight aces while facing just two break points.
Her impressive tally of 219 winners in the tournament is the highest of any player this season, along with 47 aces. Zheng’s recent form has been outstanding, winning 13 of her last 14 matches.
Adding to her confidence is Zheng's previous victory over Andreeva earlier in this tournament in 2024, where she won 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.