In a compelling second-round match at the Credit One Charleston Open, No. 3 seed Zheng Qinwen from China showcased her dominance on Wednesday night. She secured a decisive win against Maria Sakkari of Greece, with a score of 6-4, 6-1, advancing to the Round of 16.
Competing in Charleston for the first time since 2022, Zheng, the current Olympic gold medalist, spent 1 hour and 32 minutes on court to overcome Sakkari, a former World No. 3 and a Charleston semifinalist from the previous year.
Key Points from the Match:
Zheng`s Clay Court Dominance Continues
Sakkari entered the match with a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head record against Zheng. However, all their previous encounters had been on hard courts.
Clay proved to be a different surface altogether. Before this week`s tournament, Zheng`s last appearance on clay was her remarkable journey to winning the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, hosted at Roland Garros.
Zheng carried her confidence on clay into this match, now boasting a 12-match winning streak on this surface. This streak includes her Olympic triumph and a title win in Palermo prior to the Olympics.
In contrast, Sakkari`s ranking has declined from No. 7 to No. 64 over the past year, and her record for the year stands at 6 wins and 11 losses. Sakkari was aiming for her first victory against a Top 10 player in over a year but has now extended her losing streak against Top 10 opponents to 0-8 since her win against Coco Gauff at the 2024 Indian Wells.
Powerful Shots Propel Zheng
Zheng`s powerful and accurate groundstrokes are particularly effective on clay courts. Her strong, deep forehand allowed her to dictate play. This was evident as she navigated a prolonged game at 3-3 in the first set to secure the crucial break.
Known for her strong serve, Zheng`s first serve remained a significant weapon, even on clay. She utilized a powerful serve to save a break point and consolidate her lead to 5-3, eventually taking the first set.
The first serve continued to be dominant for Zheng in the second set. When her first serve landed in, she won an impressive 87.5 percent of those points. However, her second serve was more vulnerable, winning only a third of those points.
Despite the second serve vulnerability, Zheng`s effective first serve ensured her victory without dropping serve throughout the match, saving both break points she faced. Fittingly, the match concluded with a powerful crosscourt forehand from Zheng.
First Encounter Awaits
Zheng`s next challenge in the Round of 16 will be against either No. 13 seed Elise Mertens from Belgium or Varvara Gracheva of France. They are scheduled to play the final match on Credit One Stadium on Wednesday.
Regardless of her opponent, Zheng is set for a new matchup as she has never previously competed against either Mertens, a former Top 15 player, or Gracheva.
More updates to follow…
