BEIJING, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Zheng Qinwen, a wildcard entry and home favourite, will compete against French Open champion Mirra Andreeva in the final of the China Open. Zheng triumphed over 13th seed Elise Mertens with a score of 7-5, 6-2, while Andreeva, the fourth seed, defeated Nikola Bartunkova 6-2, 6-2 in their respective semi-finals.
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Zheng, who recently returned from an elbow injury, is the first Chinese player to reach the final in Beijing. She initially faced challenges in the match against Mertens, briefly losing her early 4-2 advantage due to a series of errors. However, Zheng regained control to secure the first set at 7-5 and dominated the second.
This final marks Zheng's second meeting with Andreeva, having previously won against her in the 2024 Beijing quarter-finals. "I always want to give my best here. It’s like the fifth Grand Slam for me," Zheng said, reflecting on her experience in the tournament.
In the earlier semi-final, Andreeva required just over an hour to secure her victory, capitalizing on 20 unforced errors from Bartunkova while hitting 27 winners herself. The 19-year-old Andreeva acknowledged Zheng's home advantage and praised her recent performances against top players, expressing excitement for their upcoming match.
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Purulia, India; editing by Ed Osmond)