Zheng Qinwen captures first WTA 125 singles Valencia title at BBVA Open Internacional in Spain
- Chinese teen Zheng Qinwen held off 21-year-old compatriot Wang Xiyu to grab her first WTA 125 title at the BBVA Open Internacional de Valencia
- Zhang Shuai, who paired up with Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, won the women’s doubles title by beating Monica Niculescu and Caroline Dolehide in straight sets
A tussle between two of China’s up-and-coming players ended with Zheng Qinwen topping Wang Xiyu 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to win the BBVA Open Internacional de Valencia singles title in Spain.
No 3 seed Zheng prevailed over unseeded Wang in a two-hour and 34-minute clay-court clash to claim her first WTA 125 singles title.
With the win, the 19-year-old maintained her breakthrough form from the French Open, where she reached a career-high ranking of world No 54.
“I’m very happy to win the tournament, thank you to all the fans who are supporting me, I really enjoy playing here,” Zheng said after the match.
At Roland Garros, in only her second grand slam main-draw appearance, Zheng upset former champion Simona Halep in the second round. She then gave world No 1 Iga Swiatek a scare in round 16, becoming the only player to take a set off of the eventual French Open champion.
This week in Valencia, Zheng proved her Paris exploits were not a one-off, besting No 1 seed Nuria Parrizas Diaz 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the semifinals to reach her first WTA 125 final.
Sunday proved to be a good day for China. At the Nottingham Open WTA tournament, Zhang Shuai, who paired up with Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, won the women’s doubles title after beating Monica Niculescu and Caroline Dolehide in straight sets 7-6(2), 6-3.
“Amazing tournament and I always play so well here,” Zhang said. “It’s a really tough match, and both girls play well. It’s the first time me and my partner have played together. I think we will do more tournaments together,” she added.
Zhang, 33, also reached the women’s singles last eight as the No 4 seed in Nottingham. Her doubles partner Haddad Maia won the singles title.
Elsewhere, Wu Yibing won the Orlando Open men’s singles final 6-7(5), 6-4, 3-1 as his opponent Jason Kubler retired, ending a three-year title drought for Chinese male players in the challenge tour.
