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[UPDATED] Zheng Qinwen Beats Andreeva, Wins China Open
Ranked 54th, Zheng, 24, is the first Chinese player to win the tournament since its inception in 2004.
China’s Zheng Qinwen celebrates with the trophy after beating Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the women’s singles final at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 11, 2026. (Photo by Greg Baker / AFP)
Zheng Qinwen won her home China Open on Sunday, beating Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 for her first title in nearly two years.
The former world number four, who became the first home winner of the China Open, entered as a wildcard in Beijing, having struggled for form after elbow surgery in 2025.
China’s Zheng Qinwen celebrates after winning against Belgium’s Elise Mertens during their women’s singles semi-final at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 10, 2026. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
The former world number four and current Olympic champion was a wildcard entry in Beijing, having struggled with form and fitness after elbow surgery in 2025.
Ranked 54th, Zheng, 24, is the first Chinese player to win the tournament since its inception in 2004.
Russia’s Mirra Andreeva reacts during her women’s singles final match against China’s Zheng Qinwen at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 11, 2026. (Photo by Pedro Pardo / AFP)
Andreeva, ranked five, was more consistent to start with, but Zheng grabbed back a break and stayed with her 19-year-old opponent as they battled on the baseline.
Zheng saved three set points to level 5-5 and won every single point after that, sending down an ace to grab the lead.
A crowd desperate to see their homegrown talent crowned champion was at times disruptive as cheers erupted before points ended and shouts for Zheng punctuated serves on both sides of the net.
China’s Zheng Qinwen hits a return to Russia’s Mirra Andreeva during their women’s singles final at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 11, 2026. (Photo by Pedro Pardo / AFP)
But the players kept their focus, holding serve until Zheng found a way through in the ninth game of the second set, firing brilliantly against the line to break and go up 5-4.
A double fault threatened to derail an imminent triumph until Zheng, defiant, sent down an ace to win on her first match point.
It is Zheng’s first trophy since October 2024, when she beat Sofia Kenin in Tokyo, and her first-ever title at the prestigious WTA 1000 level.
The players’ only previous meeting was in the 2024 China Open quarter-finals, where Zheng beat Andreeva in three sets.
Andreeva, playing in her first China Open final, said it was “a very nice week” despite falling just short.
“I love playing in Beijing, so of course had a very, very nice time.”
With her run to the final, Andreeva is set to move up to three in the world rankings for a career-high.
