In the second round of the Women's Singles at the 2024 WTA1000 Championships in Doha, China's Zheng Qinwen defeated Poland's Linette 2-1 to advance strongly, and she will next face former US Open runner-up Fernandez for a place in the quarterfinals.
After reaching her first Grand Slam women's singles final at the Australian Open, Zheng is off to a great start to her 2024 season. Now Zheng Qinwen is the No. 5 seed in the WTA1000 Doha station, with a first-round bye, Zheng Qinwen faced Poland's Linette in the second round.
In the first set, China's active first sister took the lead in entering the state and quickly won 6-2. In the second set, Linette fought back strongly and pulled back the set 6-2, and the two sides drew 1-1. In the deciding set, Zheng Qinwen regained control of the rhythm of the game and finally ended the battle 6-3. The big score defeated Linette 2-1 to advance to the women's singles round of 16.
In the next 1/8 finals, Zheng Qinwen will face former US Open runner-up (2021) Fernandez. The latter defeated Bardosa 0-6 6-2 6-3 to advance. In her career, Fernandes has won three WTA 250 women's singles titles and the quarterfinals of the French Open (2022), although her best result in the 1000 was in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas.
On the other hand, Zheng Qinwen once broke into the quarterfinals of the women's singles in Rome in 2023, while equaling his best record in the WTA1000-level event, Zheng Qinwen also became the first Chinese golden flower to advance to the quarterfinals in Rome since Li Na and Zhang Shuai in 2014.
Objectively speaking, the overall record of the two is comparable. However, judging from the past season, Zheng Qinwen has to occupy a certain advantage. In 2023, Zheng Qinwen not only reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, but also won three women's singles titles at the WTA 500 (Zhengzhou), 250 (Palermo) and Hangzhou Asian Games, as well as the runner-up at the Zhuhai Classic.
On the other hand, Fernandes' best results in a Grand Slam in 2023 are in the second round (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon), and only won one WTA 250 women's singles title (Hong Kong). If Zheng Qinwen remains competitive at the Australian Open, she has every chance to set a new record and even become the first Chinese golden flower to win the 1000 Women's Singles title after Li Na (Cincinnati 2012).
Other match reports:
Zhu Lin lost to Rybakina 2-6 1-6 to stop the second round
Wang Xinyu lost to Azarenka 6-7 2-6 to stop the second round
Ostapenko 6-3 6-3 Karenina
Pliskova 6-1 5-7 6-4 Potapova
Noskova 3-6 7-6(2) 7-5 Sakkari
Naomi Osaka 6-3 7-6(9) Martic
Tesurenko 6-3 6-2 Jabbar
Siniakova 6-2 6-4 Gauff