Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen delivered a statement performance at the WTA Italian Open, clinching her first clay-court victory of the season in Rome. The World No. 8 overcame Serbia’s Olga Danilovic 6-1, 6-4 in just 90 minutes, booking a spot in the third round at the historic Foro Italico.
The eighth-seeded Zheng received a first-round bye, then faced Danilovic for their first meeting on clay. She dominated the opening set, racing to a 5-0 lead and, despite facing four break points in the seventh game, held serve to close out the frame 6-1 with an ace.
The second set was tighter, with both players exchanging breaks before Zheng edged ahead 3-2. A run of four consecutive points in the eighth game sealed a 6-4 win, marking her first clay-court triumph this season and delivering a confidence boost ahead of Roland Garros.
“Before going on court, I told myself I needed to be more consistent,” Zheng said. “In my last match in Madrid, I had too many unforced errors, so today, my goal was to stay steady first, then look for chances to attack. I feel like I stuck to my game plan well.”
Looking ahead, Zheng stressed the importance of mental composure on slow surfaces. “When my emotions get too restless, it affects my performance on court. Now my goal is to quiet my mind, and take it one match at a time,” she noted.
With form on her side, Zheng Qinwen remains a contender for deeper runs on clay this spring, as fans and analysts alike watch her journey at the heart of Europe’s tennis season.
Reference(s):
Zheng Qinwen clinches first clay-court win of season at Italian Open
cgtn.com
