China's rising tennis star, Zheng Qinwen, kicked off her campaign at the WTA Charleston Open with a commanding win over Greece's Maria Sakkari, extending her clay-court winning streak to 12 matches.
The 22-year-old, returning for her first appearance since debuting in 2022, delivered a dominant performance by defeating the former World No. 3 Sakkari 6-4, 6-1. With this victory, Zheng not only levels her record against Sakkari at 2-2, but also builds on a remarkable clay form that began with her gold medal triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics following a title defense in Palermo.
Looking ahead to the round of 16, Zheng is set to face Belgium's No. 13 seed Elise Mertens, promising another intriguing chapter in her burgeoning career.
In another highlight from the tournament, No. 10 seed Yulia Putintseva broke a four-match losing streak by overcoming Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai in the second round. Putintseva now celebrates a seven-match winning streak against Zhang, a trend that dates back to 2020.
This dynamic start at Charleston underscores the global appeal of women’s tennis, drawing in young fans and sports enthusiasts from around the world. As these athletes continue to push the limits on clay, the tournament promises more high-stakes battles and fresh stories of perseverance and innovation in the sport.
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Zheng extends clay-court winning streak to 12 with win over Sakkari
cgtn.com
