Zheng Qinwen secured her sixth career title and first victory of 2024 by defeating Mirra Andreeva 2-0 (7-5, 6-4) in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) China Open singles final in Beijing on October 11, becoming the tournament’s first Chinese singles champion and first wildcard winner, Munhwa reported.
The 24-year-old Chinese player navigated seven matches from the opening round to the final, spending a total of 15 hours and 15 minutes on the court. That grueling stretch established a new record for the most time spent on court during a single tournament this season.
Zheng’s path to the Beijing trophy followed a steep physical and ranking descent. After capturing the Paris Olympics gold medal and finishing as the runner-up at the 2024 Australian Open, she climbed to a career-high world ranking of No. 4.
Signs of a turnaround emerged in September when she reached the quarterfinals of the US Open. Winning the China Open championship pushed her ranking up 31 spots from No. 54 to No. 23 for the week, while 19-year-old Russian finalist Andreeva moved from No. 5 up to No. 3.
Aquired such a precious title feels like I finally achieved something meaningful, like being the person who made history once again,
Zheng said immediately after the victory. When I was really struggling [with injuries], everyone told me I wouldn’t be able to come back, but losing a lot helped me find my passion again.
| Player | Age | Nationality | Tournament Result | Ranking Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zheng Qinwen | 24 | China | China Open Winner (First Chinese Champion) | No. 54 to No. 23 |
| Mirra Andreeva | 19 | Russia | China Open Runner-up | No. 5 to No. 3 |
The straight-sets victory marked Zheng’s first tournament title since 2024. It also established her as the first home player to capture the women’s singles crown at the Beijing event since it became a regular WTA Tour tournament in 2004.
