Zheng Qinwen of China has advanced to the final of the Palermo Ladies Open after defeating Diane Parry of France with a score of 7-5, 6-4 in the semifinals on Saturday in Palermo, Italy. Zheng showcased her resilience and skill on the clay courts, marking a significant achievement in her career.
The first set witnessed a tight contest, with both players tied at 4-4 after the first eight games. Zheng then managed to break Parry’s serve in the ninth game, only to have Parry break back immediately. However, Zheng broke Parry’s serve once more and secured the set by holding her serve.
In the second set, Zheng took an early lead, breaking Parry’s serve to go up 3-1. She maintained her advantage with a composed performance, ultimately clinching her fourth consecutive victory at the tournament without dropping a set.
Zheng’s opponent in the final will be Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic. This final marks Zheng’s sixth appearance in a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour title match and her second this year, following her advancement to the Australian Open final in January.
Reflecting on her previous successes, Zheng has won two WTA Tour titles, including her triumph at the Palermo Open in 2023, where she defeated Jasmine Paolini of Italy with a score of 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 in the final. However, her upcoming match against Muchova will be a challenging one, as Zheng lost to the Czech player 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the Madrid Open in April 2022.
As Zheng prepares for the final, she remains focused and determined, aiming to add another title to her growing list of accomplishments on the WTA Tour.
Zheng in Palermo, ranking, and results in 2024
Currently the world no.7 (career-high), Qinwen has managed to achieve a 25-12 win-loss record in 2024. Zheng is now having a run in Palermo where she beat the world no.96 Sara Errani 6-3 6-2, the world no.99 Petra Martic 6-4 6-4, the world no.66 Jaqueline Cristian 6-1 6-1 and the world no.58 Diane Parry 7-5 6-4.
Qinwen Zheng will face the world no.291 Alice Tubello in the quarter. They have never played each other till now in top tournaments.
The Chinese reached the final at the Australian Open.
Qinwen Zheng |
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