Zheng Wins China Open, Becomes First Chinese Player to Claim Title

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen claimed her first WTA 1000 title by defeating Mirra Andreeva in the China Open final. The match ended 7-5 6-4 in Beijing, marking Zheng's first victory at the tournament.

Zheng, a wildcard entry, has been on a recovery path after missing much of last year due to an elbow injury on her dominant right arm. She showed strong form in the final, using powerful forehands to control the rallies.

Andreeva, the world No.5, held firm after an early break exchange and led 5-4 in the first set. Zheng saved three break points to level the set at 5-5 before securing the first set with a break.

In the second set, Andreeva saved three break points as the match reached 4-4. Zheng eventually broke Andreeva and followed with a perfect ace to clinch the title, her first WTA 1000 victory of the year.

Andreeva praised Zheng's performance, noting her strong serving and aggressive play. Andreeva admitted she missed several returns and struggled to find rhythm during the match.

Zheng and Andreeva are set to compete at the Wuhan Open starting Monday. Zheng aims to return to the top 20 in the rankings if she carries the momentum into the next tournament.