Imperious Zheng defeats Krejcikova to reach maiden final at WTA Finals
The Chinese No 1 knocked out Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 7-5 to reach her first WTA Finals showpiece on her debut appearance
Zheng Qinwen, WTA Finals, 2024 © Zuma / Panoramic
Zheng Qinwen withstood a tenacious second-set fightback from Barbora Krejcikova to reach her maiden final at the WTA Finals with a scintillating performance in Riyadh.
A tournament debutant at this year’s season-ending finale in Saudi Arabia, Zheng has been one of the most impressive participants at this year’s event, capping off a superb latter half of 2024 by reaching one of the biggest finals of her career.
And she has done so in some style.
Zheng was in imperious form right from the start, ripping winners off both wings while staying virtually untouchable on serve with an intimidating 94% of first serve points won.
She made the first move early, breaking in the second game of the match in what was an ominous start. That break proved decisive, as the remainder of the set went on serve. Krejcikova fended off two break points to earn an impressive hold when serving in the eighth game at 5-2 down, before Zheng emphatically served out a dominant opening set with a hold to love.
zheng’s dominant start halted by spirited fightback from krejcikova
Zheng’s relentless aggression continued into the second stanza, with yet more return and baseline pressure rushing Krejcikova into a growing number of unforced errors. She broke in the first and third games of the set en route to a commanding 3-0 lead.
But Krejcikova staged a remarkable fightback as she found her first break of the match in the following game before staving off two break points to earn a crucial hold. Shored up by greatly improved service figures, suddenly it was Krejcikova in the ascendency. Zheng’s first-serve percentage dipped and her second serves were routinely punished by some impressive returning from her opponent.
Having cut the deficit to a single break, the Czech broke again before notching her most comfortable hold of the contest to move into a 4-3 lead.
The match then settled back into a more even rhythm, as both players put together a series of solid holds. But the tension was sky-high and only ramped up as the set moved closer towards its conclusion.
As the prospect of a tiebreak came into view, Krejcikova blinked. Zheng pounced on a loose service game to move 6-5 ahead and deliver what was the fatal blow on her opponent.
Holding off a break point in a nerve-shredding final game, Zheng took her second match point to earn a momentous win in front of a delighted crowd.
“It feels so special. This is my first WTA Finals, and now I’m in the final. It’s unbelievable,” Zheng said in her on-court interview.
“She’s a really good player. We gave a good match. I don’t know what happened when I was leading 3-0. I want to say thanks for all the support from the fans. You gave such an amazing atmosphere.”
zheng qinwen announces arrival at wta’s top table
Krejcikova has put together a curious season. Despite lifting the Wimbledon crown over the summer, results away from SW19 have been far more mixed in what has been a disappointing and injury-ridden campaign.
But the Czech has done well to show that she belongs at this tournament, among the best players in the world, despite not qualifying through a top-eight ranking alone – with her Grand Slam title and top 20 finish earning her a spot. An impressive run to the last four comes to an end, but if she can stay fit and healthy, Krejcikova will once again be a force to be reckoned with next season.
Yet, today was all about her opponent.
In a week that has too often seen sparse audience numbers, the Chinese No 1 has proved herself to be the star attraction in Riyadh, with all her matches drawing the biggest crowds and most vocal support.
The second half of her season has seen Zheng fulfil much of her long-held potential, with three titles and a run to the final of the1000-level Wuhan Open.
Zheng has now become the first Chinese woman to reach the WTA Finals showpiece since Li Na in 2013 and is the first Chinese player ever to reach 50 wins in a season.
Over the past seven days, there has been the unmistakeable sense that a new star of the sport has arrived as Zheng’s excellent tennis, generous crowd support and a run to the final have all combined to frame this tournament as the ‘Zheng Finals.’
She will take on either Aryna Sabalenka – who provides a burgeoning rivalry of which Zheng has yet to be on the winning side – or 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff in tomorrow’s season-ending showpiece.
Whichever way that final goes, however, Zheng has used this huge stage in Riyadh to announce her formal arrival at the top of elite women’s tennis.
