Google News Zhengzhou Open: Qinwen Zheng holds host nation's banner aloft with emphatic triumph!
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Qinwen Zheng, the highest-ranked Chinese player made it to the second round of the Zhengzhou Open on Monday. Zheng defeated Ukrainian qualifier Kateryna Volodko 6-4, 6-3 after 84 minutes of play. The 21-year-old hit 11 aces which accounted for almost 50% of the total winners she hit in the match (23).
Her opponent, who had zero aces, finished the match with six double faults. Zheng, too, hit three double faults of her own. Volodko’s winners were a paltry three in comparison to her rival. Zheng won 95% of her first-serve points and 46% of her second-serve points.
Volodko won 60% of her first-serve points but gave away 68% points on return to her opponent. Despite her control over the proceedings, Zheng did fail to save two of the three break points she faced but made good of five break point chances on her opponent’s serve.
Looking to reach the quarter-finals, the world no. 24 will play the sixth-ranked Maria Sakkari. The 28-year-old’s seeded third this week and received a first-round bye.
Zhengzhou Open: Italians, Ukrainians enter pre-quarters
Italians Jasmine Paolini and Lucia Bronzetti won their respective first-round matches to make it to the second round.
Paolini won against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-2, 6-3 in an hour and 23 minutes. Paolini won 71% of her first-serve points to her opponent, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser, winning 64%. The Italian also won 59% of her second-serve points and 62% points on return on Uchijima’s second serve.
Bronzetti got the better of Hanyu Guo 7-5, 6-1. Guo, a Chinese player ranked 435th in the world, received a wildcard to play in the main draw. Despite her ranking being too low, Guo still made it difficult for her opponent, especially in the first set, before the latter made it easy for herself to move ahead in the draw.
Aside from Volodko, two other Ukrainian players played their round-of-32 matches on Monday. Both Lesia Tsurenko and Anhelina Kalinina won their respective clashes. Tsurenko won against Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-2. Meanwhile, in the last match of the day, Kalinina got past Ellen Perez of Australia 6-1, 6-3.
Lastly, the lone seed who played her first-round match at the Zhengzhou Open on Monday, 10th seed Donna Vekic also took her place in the next round. The Croatian completed a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Nao Hibino in 77 minutes.