Zheng Qinwen made history at the 2026 China Open by becoming the first home player to win the title since the tournament began in 1994. After an arduous path through four consecutive three-set matches, Zheng secured her victory without dropping a set in her final three matches, which included wins over Elina Svitolina and Mirra Andreeva. She dropped a total of 78 games throughout the tournament, setting a record for the most games lost during any WTA 1000 or Tier I title run since 1990.
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Previously, only one Chinese player, Chen Li-Ling, had reached the final in Beijing. Zheng's triumph marks the 13th home victory by a Chinese player on the WTA Tour, the first since her own title in Zhengzhou in 2023, and the first at a WTA 1000 level.
After undergoing elbow surgery last July and a challenging return, Zheng's performance this year has been impressive. Following a tough start with an 11-13 record, she dedicated time to training and has since surged with a 14-2 record, including an 8-1 performance in three-set matches. Zheng's ranking reflects her comeback, soaring from No. 54 to No. 23 in the latest PIF WTA Rankings.
Mirra Andreeva, the runner-up in Beijing, also experienced a breakthrough by reaching the Top 3 for the first time in her career, climbing from No. 5 to No. 3. At 19 years and 166 days old, she is the youngest player to enter the Top 3 since Maria Sharapova in February 2005. Andreeva has had a stellar season, making her fifth final of the year, tying for the most on tour with other top players.
Two players made significant moves in the rankings: Nikola Bartunkova broke into the Top 30 for the first time after reaching the semifinals, moving from No. 34 to No. 29, and Alina Charaeva made her Top 100 debut, jumping from No. 118 to No. 98 after defeating World No. 1 Elena Rybakina in the second round of Beijing.
Elise Mertens, a former Top 50 player, advanced to No. 14 after her performance in Beijing, which included top-10 victories and her first semifinal at this level since 2021. Other notable rankings movements include Elina Svitolina and Karolina Muchova, who improved to No. 6 and No. 7, respectively.
WTA 125 events also saw milestones for players like Alexandra Shubladze, who captured her first title, and Leolia Jeanjean, who achieved her first WTA 125 trophy. Both players made significant gains in the rankings. Furthermore, junior player Sun Xinran made headlines by reaching the Top 500 after an impressive performance in her WTA main-draw debut.
Overall, the rankings reflect a dynamic time in women's tennis, with players making remarkable progress and achieving career highs.