Zheng Qinwen wins historic China Open title

Zheng Qinwen defeated Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 in the China Open final on Sunday, October 11, winning her first WTA 1000 title and becoming the first Chinese player to claim the tournament’s championship at that level. The 24-year-old wildcard secured the straight-sets victory in Beijing with an ace. The title was Zheng’s first since she won in Tokyo in late 2024, ending a wait of nearly two years for another championship. Andreeva threatened to take the opening set, moving ahead 5-4 and earning three set points. Zheng saved them, held serve and broke Andreeva to win the set 7-5. The second remained close until Zheng broke at 4-4, then held serve to finish the match. The result capped a recovery from an elbow injury that disrupted Zheng’s previous season. She had reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 before the injury and entered the China Open ranked No. 54. Reports said the injury to her dominant right elbow kept her out for nearly six months. She returned to competition in 2026 and reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals in August.