Zheng Qinwen confirmed for China Open debut as she prepares for Aryna Sabalenka clash in New York
- Chinese No 1, who is through to US Open quarter-finals, will feature when WTA event returns to Beijing for first time since 2019
- Sabalenka – her next opponent in New York – is also among headliners at the Chinese showpiece, which gets under way on September 30
As she gets set for her maiden US Open quarter-final, organisers have confirmed Zheng Qinwen will make her debut at the China Open later this month.
The 20-year-old faces a tall task to reach the semi-finals in New York, with Aryna Sabalenka – who is set to be confirmed as the 29th women’s world No 1 when the new WTA rankings are released next week – standing in her way.
Sabalenka will also be among the headlining names in Beijing, along with current No 1 Iga Swiatek, who surrendered her US Open crown after suffering a shock loss to Jelena Ostapenko in the last 16.
World No 4 Elena Rybakina and No 9 Marketa Vondrousova have also signed up for the tournament, which is back in China for the first time since 2019, and taking place from September 30 to October 8.
Zhu Lin, who made it to the third round at the US Open before falling to Belinda Bencic, will be among the other home hopes at the China Open, which will “usher in the long-lost China season”, a press release read.
Former champions and runners-up Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Garcia and Petra Kvitova will also feature in Beijing.
Record-making Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff steam into US Open semi-finals
By beating last year’s runner-up and world No 5 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, Zheng became only the fourth Chinese woman to make the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows – following in the footsteps of Wang Qiang, Peng, and two-time grand slam champion Li Na.
Chinese No 1 Zheng will take on Sabalenka of Belarus – a two-time US Open semi-finalist – at midday local time on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.
Having now racked up four wins over top 10 players in her burgeoning career, world No 23 Zheng put her improvement down to hiring new coach Wim Fissette this summer, which soon brought tangible results with her first WTA singles title in Palermo before her run at the US Open.
“I feel I’m more stable mentally, especially when I started to work with [Fissette],” Zheng told WTA Insider. “I don’t have too many ups and downs like what I had at the beginning of the year.
“Not [just] on the tennis court, just general personality. I’ve become a more calm person. Not always get fire in the practice. It’s funny to say that, but honestly that was the truth. He’s always telling me to believe in myself. I think that’s the key.”
Zheng was named the 2022 WTA Newcomer of the Year after a run to the last 16 at the French Open, having stunned two-time grand slam champion Simona Halep and French No 1 Alize Cornet along the way.
