China’s ‘Queen Wen’, tennis superstar Zheng Qinwen, has made history on home soil in the China Open women’s singles final on October 11th to become the first Chinese woman to win the tournament’s singles title.
She defeated by Russia’s Mirra Andreeva 7–5, 6–4 to win the tournament.
The victory in Beijing marks Zheng’s first WTA 1000 title and her first title on the WTA Tour since winning in Tokyo in 2024.
It is also a remarkable milestone in her comeback from a persistent right elbow injury that required surgery in July 2025 and kept her away from her best form for much of the following year.
A wildcard entry, seven matches and one historic title
Zheng arrived at the China Open without the security of a high ranking.
Having fallen as low as No. 160 during her recovery, she entered the tournament as a wildcard, facing a demanding 96-player draw that required her to win seven matches to lift the trophy. At her best, she had been ranked world No. 4.
Her elbow had interrupted her career for months, and her return to competition had already taught her a difficult lesson about the risks of coming back too soon.
Her opening rounds in Beijing were far from straightforward. Zheng needed three sets to defeat fellow Chinese player Shi Han, winning 7–6(6), 4–6, 6–2 after two hours and 44 minutes. She advanced past Anna Kalinskaya in the second round after the Russian retired with an injury, then endured another three-set battle against Marie Bouzkova. In the fourth round, Zheng overcame Alina Charaeva, who had caused an upset by eliminating top seed Elena Rybakina.
By that stage, Zheng had repeatedly been forced to fight her way through difficult matches rather than dominate from the outset.
Her quarter-final against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina proved to be a turning point. For the first time during the tournament, Zheng won in straight sets, taking the match 6–3, 7–6(6). Her powerful groundstrokes and improved composure under pressure began to look increasingly convincing. She carried that momentum into the semi-finals, beating Belgium’s Elise Mertens 7–5, 6–2. Mertens had enjoyed an impressive run in Beijing, including victories over several highly ranked opponents. Zheng, however, looked increasingly assured as the tournament progressed.
By the time she reached the final, the possibility of a historic home victory had become real.
Beating Andreeva, one point at a time
Standing between Zheng and the title was Andreeva, the 19-year-old Russian who had won the French Open earlier in 2026 and established herself among the leading players on tour.
The two had met in the China Open quarter-finals in 2024, when Zheng came from behind to win in three sets.
The final began with Andreeva taking a 2–0 lead. Zheng responded by breaking back and gradually found her rhythm, but the first set remained finely balanced. At 4–5, Zheng faced three set points on her own serve. Saving them proved crucial. She held to level the score at 5–5, then won the next two games to take the set 7–5. The second set brought another tense exchange. Neither player was willing to give much away, and the score reached 4–4 before Zheng found an opening in the ninth game.
Applying pressure with her backhand, she forced an error from Andreeva to secure the decisive break.
Serving for the championship, Zheng briefly lost control of the game, dropping two points and committing a double fault. But she recovered with a series of aggressive shots and powerful serves, eventually sealing the match with an ace.
The significance of winning at home
The China Open has played a meaningful role in the careers of Chinese players, and Zheng’s victory adds a new chapter to that history.
The chance to compete in Beijing gave her a stage on which to rebuild her confidence, with local fans following every step of her progress.
Zheng’s journey also invites a more measured way of looking at elite sport. The injuries, rehabilitation and changes in form are part of a professional athlete’s life, and recovery rarely follows a straight line. The victory gave her tangible evidence that the work of the past year had not been in vain.
In Beijing, she showed that resilience is not simply the ability to endure pain or keep fighting during a match. It can also mean accepting that recovery takes time, listening to others and being willing to rebuild from the basics. As the crowd celebrated her victory, Zheng stood not just as an Olympic champion adding another title to her record, but as an athlete who had found a way through a difficult period.
Her first China Open crown is a historic achievement in its own right. Whether it becomes the beginning of another sustained run at the top remains to be seen. But it is obvious that “Queen Wen” is now back in the winner’s circle — and the next chapter is hers to write.
Written by Rinu Lu. If you like this article, why not read: China’s ‘Cun Chao’ Draws 551 International Players to Rural Guizhou
