In a compelling second-round match at the Credit One Charleston Open, No. 3 seed Zheng Qinwen from China showcased her dominance on Wednesday night, overcoming Greece`s Maria Sakkari with a decisive 6-4, 6-1 victory to advance to the Round of 16.
Competing in Charleston for the first time since her debut in 2022, Zheng, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, required just 1 hour and 32 minutes to defeat Sakkari, a former World No. 3 and last year`s Charleston semifinalist.
Here are key takeaways from their encounter:
Zheng`s Clay-Court Momentum Builds
Sakkari entered the match with a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head record against Zheng, but all previous matches had been played on hard courts.
Clay proved to be a different surface entirely. Before this tournament, Zheng`s most recent clay-court event was her triumphant journey to gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, hosted at Roland Garros.
Zheng carried her clay-court confidence into this match, now boasting an impressive 12-match winning streak on the surface, including her title win in Palermo prior to the Olympics.
In contrast, Sakkari`s ranking has declined from No. 7 to No. 64 over the past year, and her record for the year stands at 6 wins and 11 losses. She was seeking her first Top 10 victory in over a year, but this loss extends her streak to 0-8 against Top 10 players since defeating Coco Gauff at the 2024 Indian Wells.
Powerful Shots Propel Zheng Forward
Zheng`s powerful and consistent game is particularly effective on clay, where her strong, deep forehands enable her to control the court. This was evident as she battled through a lengthy game at 3-3, ultimately securing the crucial break in the first set.
As the ace leader on the Hologic WTA Tour last year, Zheng`s first serve remains a significant weapon, even on clay. She utilized a powerful serve to save a break point and consolidate her lead to 5-3, eventually securing the first set.
The effectiveness of the first serve continued into the second set, which Zheng dominated. It proved decisive when she landed her first serve, winning 87.5 percent of those points. However, her second serve was more vulnerable, winning only a third of the points.
Nevertheless, Zheng`s first serve was consistent enough to secure a victory without dropping serve, saving both break points she faced. Fittingly, her final shot was a powerful crosscourt forehand to clinch match point.
New Opponent Awaits
Zheng`s next challenge in the Round of 16 will be against either No. 13 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium or Varvara Gracheva of France. They are scheduled to play their second-round match on Wednesday at Credit One Stadium.
Zheng is guaranteed a fresh matchup as she has never previously competed against either former Top 15 player Mertens or Gracheva.
More updates to follow…
