Zheng Qinwen ousts Elina Svitolina to reach China Open semifinals

Zheng Qinwen beat Elina Svitolina 6–3, 7–6 on Friday to reach the China Open semifinals for the second time, completing the quarterfinal in one hour and 47 minutes in Beijing.

Zheng broke Svitolina three times in the opening set, including in the first service game, and built a 5–2 lead before taking the set. She had to recover from a break down in the second set before securing the match in a tie-break.

The victory came a day after Zheng’s 24th birthday. It puts her one win away from a first China Open final following a period that included elbow surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation.

“I used to think that winning a match is like drinking water; it is normal,” Zheng said in the tournament’s match report.

Zheng’s next opponent is Elise Mertens, who beat Iga Świątek 7–6 (0), 6–3 earlier Friday. Their semifinal is scheduled for Saturday, October 10. Mertens reached it after also defeating Jelena Ostapenko and Coco Gauff in Beijing.

Mirra Andreeva and Nikola Bartůňková meet in the other semifinal. Zheng is the fifth Chinese player to reach the last four of the China Open, according to the tournament; no Chinese player has yet reached the women’s singles final.