Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng completed a remarkable comeback story on home soil, defeating Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 to win the China Open title in Beijing on Sunday. The victory made the 24-year-old the first Chinese player to lift the prestigious trophy since the tournament began in 2004. It was Zheng’s first title in nearly two years and her maiden WTA 1000 crown.
For Zheng, the triumph was about much more than silverware. It marked the culmination of a difficult journey back from a persistent right elbow injury that required surgery in 2025 and disrupted much of her career. Having once climbed to world No. 4, the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist saw her ranking tumble as she struggled to regain her fitness and competitive rhythm.
Her return to the top began with an extraordinary run at the US Open, where she fought through qualifying before reaching the quarter-finals. Zheng displayed remarkable grit in New York, overturning a 0-5 deficit in a deciding set against Madison Keys before producing another stunning comeback against Iga Swiatek, recovering from 0-5 down in the opening set to win 7-5, 6-3. Her resilience against two Grand Slam champions offered a powerful reminder of the talent and fighting spirit that had taken her to the top of the game.
HOW ZHENG OUTLASTED ANDREEVA IN BEIJING
Standing between Zheng and a dream home triumph was Andreeva, the French Open champion and one of the brightest young stars on the WTA Tour. But Zheng rose to the occasion, using her powerful forehand and aggressive baseline game to dictate the rallies against the fifth-ranked Russian.
The opening set was a test of nerves. After the pair exchanged breaks, Andreeva moved ahead 5-4 and threatened to take control. Zheng, however, saved three break points to level the set before capitalising on her opponent’s errors to secure it 7-5.
The Chinese star maintained her composure in the second set, refusing to let Andreeva find a way back. With the score tied at 4-4, Zheng earned a crucial break and then served out the match, sealing victory with an ace on her first match point.
The title was a fitting reward for a player who had endured months of uncertainty, physical pain and a dramatic fall in the rankings. Zheng’s decision to fight her way through US Open qualifying rather than rely on a wildcard or protected ranking reflected her determination to rebuild her game through competition.
In Beijing, that perseverance finally brought its reward. In front of an emotional home crowd, Zheng turned a long-awaited comeback into a historic triumph, reclaiming her place among the sport’s leading players and giving Chinese tennis a moment to cherish.
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