China's Zheng Qinwen showed off her clay court prowess at the Italian Open, charging past Poland's Magdalena Frech with a 6-3, 6-2 victory. The match marked her third consecutive year reaching the women’s singles round of 16, and her performance was nothing short of electrifying! 🎾
From the outset, Zheng raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening set. Although Frech fought back to narrow the gap, Zheng steadied herself to wrap up the set 6-3. After clinching the first set, she released a triumphant roar that energized the court.
Reflecting on her game, Zheng noted, "I've lost to quite a few players on clay who just keep lobbing high balls at me. It gets on my nerves when they do that, so when I hit a winner, I just need to let it out to pump myself up." In the second set, Zheng broke early, and even when Frech briefly leveled at 2-2, a crucial break in the fifth game helped Zheng surge ahead, claiming the set 6-2.
Smart tactics were key in her win. Observing her opponent’s movement, Zheng mixed up the depth of her drop shots, an approach that disrupted Frech’s rhythm. Her efficient use of this stroke underlined her adaptability on clay—a trait sure to serve her well in the match ahead.
Next on the roster, Zheng will face former U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu of Canada in what promises to be another thrilling showdown. Stay tuned for more action as Zheng continues her impressive run at the Italian Open!
Reference(s):
Zheng Qinwen beats Magdalena Frech to make Italian Open round of 16
cgtn.com
