Number 3 seed from China, Zheng Qinwen, showcased a commanding performance in her second match at the Credit One Charleston Open on Wednesday night. She defeated Maria Sakkari of Greece with scores of 6-4, 6-1, securing her place in the Round of 16.
Competing in Charleston for the first time since her debut in 2022, Zheng, the current Olympic gold medalist, took one hour and 32 minutes to overcome Sakkari, a former World No. 3 who reached the semifinals in Charleston last year.
In her post-match interview on court, Zheng commented, `[I knew] when to take the initiative and attack, and when to defend. Everyone here is adapting from hard courts to clay. I believe the player who makes this transition most effectively has a strong chance to win the tournament.`
Key highlights from the match include:
Zheng Continues Winning Streak on Clay: While Sakkari held a 2-1 advantage in their previous encounters, all of those matches were played on hard courts.
Clay courts present a different dynamic. Zheng`s most recent appearance on this surface was her remarkable journey to the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, held on the prestigious Roland Garros clay.
Zheng carried this clay-court confidence into her Charleston match. She has now achieved a 12-match winning streak on clay, including her title defense at 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 aimed to secure 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 defeating Coco Gauff at the 2024 Indian Wells.
Powerful Shots Propel Zheng Forward: Zheng`s playing style is particularly effective on clay, where her powerful and deep forehands allow her to control the court. She utilized this strength to navigate a prolonged game at 3-3 and achieve the crucial break in the first set.
As the ace leader on the Hologic WTA Tour last year, Zheng`s first serve remains a significant weapon, especially on clay. She unleashed a strong serve to save a break point while consolidating her lead to 5-3, ultimately securing the first set.
Zheng`s first serve continued to dominate in the second set. It proved decisive when landed in play – Zheng won an impressive 87.5 percent of her first-serve points. However, her second serve was more vulnerable, winning only one-third of those points.
Nevertheless, Zheng successfully landed enough first serves to secure victory without being broken. She also successfully saved both break points she faced. Fittingly, the final point of the match was sealed with a powerful forehand, forcing an error from her opponent.
First Encounter Awaits: Zheng`s next challenge in the Round of 16 will be against No. 13 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium. In the concluding match on Credit One Stadium on Wednesday, Mertens defeated Varvara Gracheva of France 6-3, 7-5.
Zheng is set for a novel matchup as she has never previously competed against Mertens, a former Top 15 player.
