Zheng Qinwen shines at China Open, advances to 3rd round

Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic champion, expressed her excitement over the vibrant atmosphere at the China Open, where she played in front of a full crowd for the first time since her gold medal win in Paris. She dominated her match against Kamilla Rakhimova, winning 6-1, 6-1 in just 75 minutes. In contrast, Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, faced a tougher challenge against Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew but ultimately secured a straight-sets victory. Both players are on a potential collision course for the semi-finals, having previously faced each other in major tournaments. Zheng's home advantage and the enthusiastic support from the crowd may provide her with a different dynamic in their upcoming match compared to their previous encounters. Sabalenka, who recently won the US Open, acknowledged her struggles in the first set but found her rhythm in the second, indicating her resilience as a competitor. The tournament continues to showcase top talent, with other players like Jasmine Paolini also advancing to the next round, highlighting the competitive nature of the WTA 1000 event in Beijing.