Zheng and Krejcikova Set to Face Each Other in Zhengzhou Final
China’s Qinwen Zheng and former Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic will compete against each other in the final of the Bank of Communications Zhengzhou Open after impressive victories in their respective semifinal matches.
Zheng, carrying the hopes of the home crowd, defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 62 63 in just one hour and 15 minutes. Despite not feeling satisfied with her performance today, Zheng managed to outshine Paolini once again, just like she did in their previous meeting in Palermo in July. This upcoming appearance in her first WTA Tour final in China will add to Zheng’s successful year, which includes winning her first WTA title in Palermo and reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open.
Reflecting on her performance, Zheng said, “Honestly, I feel like I played better in the second match. I could have played better today, especially with my serve, but I still won the match in the end. It’s great that I have another chance to showcase my game. I would like to be more aggressive in the next match and there are many aspects I still want to improve.”
On the prospect of facing Barbora Krejcikova, Zheng stated, “I don’t know much about her game, and I’ve never played against her before, so I don’t know what to expect. Watching a video is different from experiencing how she really hits the ball. So, I’m just going to focus on playing my own game, being aggressive, and staying mentally prepared for a tough match.”
In the other semifinal, Czech star Barbora Krejcikova defeated Daria Kasatkina 63 60 in one hour and 30 minutes. The match started competitively but later shifted in Krejcikova’s favor halfway through the second set. Looking forward to the final, Krejcikova expressed her excitement about playing in front of the passionate fans in Zhengzhou.
Regarding her form during the tournament, Krejcikova said, “Every match is difficult, and everyone knows how to play tennis. So, each match has given me a bit of confidence, and every day I feel like I’m playing better and better. It’s a great reward to be in the final, and I’m eager for tomorrow’s match.”
When asked about facing home favorite Qinwen Zheng, Krejcikova remarked, “It’s perfect. I’m looking forward to it because I enjoy the atmosphere and the support from the crowd. It’s going to be a special moment, and I’m definitely going to enjoy it. I know she’s playing well, and she’s a tough opponent, but I’m excited to play against her.”
Additionally, in the doubles final tomorrow, top seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe will take on third seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara.
Saturday’s semifinal results:
– [7] B. Krejcikova (CZE) defeated [8] D. Kasatkina 63 60.
– Q. Zheng (CHN) defeated J. Paolini (ITA) 62 63.
For more scores, results, draws, and information from the Zhengzhou Open, please click the link here.
