On November 4, 2024, in the second round of the Purple Group at the WTA Year-End Finals, China’s top female tennis player, Zheng Qinwen, faced off against Elena Rybakina. Zheng played a thrilling three-set match, with scores of 7-6(4), 3-6, and 6-1, ultimately defeating Rybakina 2-1 in their head-to-head encounter for the first time in three meetings. This marked Zheng’s maiden victory at the Year-End Finals. With a 1-1 record in the group stage, she will next face Bollini to battle for a spot in the semifinals, having a perfect 3-0 record against her rival.
[World Rankings]
Zheng Qinwen, ranked seventh globally, is the seventh seed in the women’s singles draw. Rybakina, ranked fifth worldwide, is the fifth seed. Both players lost their opening group matches, with Zheng being swept 0-2 by Sabalenka and Rybakina suffering the same fate against Bollini.
[Head-to-Head Record]
Prior to this match, Zheng and Rybakina had faced each other twice, with Zheng losing both encounters, both in straight sets at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships and the 2023 Chinese Tennis Open.
[Match Recap]
In their third career meeting, Zheng and Rybakina traded early breaks to stay tied 1-1 in the first set. Zheng then won three consecutive games to lead 4-1. Rybakina responded with three straight games to tie it at 4-4. After both players held serve for the next four games, the set went to a tiebreaker. Zheng took a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker, extended it further, and secured the set 7-6(4) with a 7-4 tiebreaker victory.
In the second set, both players held serve to stay tied 2-2. Zheng broke Rybakina’s serve to lead 3-2 but was subsequently outplayed, losing the next four games to drop the set 3-6.
Entering the deciding set, Zheng and Rybakina again stayed tied 1-1 after the first two games. Zheng then kicked into high gear, winning the next five games to clinch the set 6-1 and the match 2-1, marking her first victory against Rybakina.
[Key Stats & Milestones]
- Zheng Qinwen secured her first singles victory at the Year-End Finals.
- She became the second Chinese player after Li Na to win a singles match at the Year-End Finals.
- Zheng ended a two-match losing streak against Rybakina, improving her head-to-head record to 1-2.
[Next Opponents]
Zheng Qinwen will face Bollini, whom she has defeated in all three previous encounters. Meanwhile, Rybakina will take on Sabalenka in her next match.