WTA Elite Trophy: Zheng outlasts Zhu to reach final against Haddad Maia
Having won the title in Zhengzhou earlier this month, Zheng is now on an eight-match winning streak
In an all-Chinese battle, top-ranked Chinese Qinwen Zheng held off a tough challenge from countrywoman Lin Zhu to reach the final of the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai.
Zheng needed three hours and 19 minutes to complete the 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 win and win her eighth match in a row – she also won the WTA 500 in Zhengzhou earlier this month.
In the final, Zheng will take on Beatriz Haddad Maia on Sunday – a first meeting between the two players. The Brazilian had defeated Russia’s Daria Kasatkina in straight sets in the first semi-final of the day.
Zheng becomes the second Chinese player to reach the final in Zhuhai after Wang Qiang, who finished runner-up in 2018 when she lost to Australia’s Ash Barty. The tournament is the second-tier season finale on the WTA Tour for players who did not make the cut at the WTA Finals in Cancun, which gets underway tomorrow.