Qinwen Zheng secured a hard-fought victory over Alina Charaeva at the 2026 China Open in Beijing, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 win on Wednesday. The match, contested before an enthusiastic home crowd, marked Zheng’s second consecutive appearance in the quarterfinals of the tournament and her first career tour-level triumph against the young Russian competitor.
Zheng Grinds Out Another 3-Set Win Against Charaeva
Zheng began the encounter with authority, dominating the opening set 6-1. However, Charaeva responded emphatically in the second, raising her level to even the match with a commanding 6-2 set. Despite this momentum swing, Zheng managed to regain composure in the decisive third set.
In the final set, Zheng improved her service game and executed a critical break of serve during a pivotal stretch, ultimately closing out the battle after two hours and eleven minutes on court. This victory extends Zheng’s impressive run in Beijing, highlighting her resilience and tactical adjustments under pressure.
Reaching the quarterfinals at a WTA 1000 event on home soil for the third time places Zheng in an exclusive group of Chinese players, joining the ranks of Li Na and Zhang Shuai, who have achieved this feat since 1990. The milestone came just before Zheng’s 24th birthday, adding a personal significance to the accomplishment.
Reflecting on the win, Zheng remarked with a smile, “I hope my team prepared a good birthday gift for me. I’m just really appreciative to have won this match because there were some ups and downs.”