Zheng Qinwen of China plays a forehand against Nadia Podoroska of Argentina (not pictured) at the WTA tennis event China Open in Beijing China, September 30, 2024. /CFP
Zheng Qinwen moved a step closer to winning a second Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour title on home soil after beating Nadia Podoroska 6-3, 6-2, in the third round of the China Open in Beijing on Monday.
Roared on once again by a packed Diamond Court crowd, the fifth seed hit a forehand winner to take the first set 6-3.
Zheng, who outlasted Barbora Krejcikova in the final of last October's Zhengzhou Open, hit a backhand down the line to break serve.
The 21-year-old is seeking her third title of 2024 after sealing singles gold at the Paris Olympics just two weeks after winning the Palermo Ladies Open in Italy.
The World No. 7 hit a backhand to secure match point. She tallied 27 winners to 27 unforced errors, while Podoroska could only muster four winners in total.
The Chinese then went on to win the set and the match as Podoroska hit a forehand return into the net.
Zheng will next face No.34 seed Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of their US Open first-round tilt a month ago, which Zheng took 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 en route to the quarterfinals.
"I felt it took me longer to react compared to the first round. Maybe it's because of the cold weather, I didn't warm up thoroughly. But I gradually found my form later in the match, and I was able to deliver some quick responses. I know she had a lot of break points in the first set but I managed to save them," Zheng said.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after her win at the WTA China Open in Beijing China, September 30, 2024. /CFP
In other action, Aryna Sabalenka cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Ashlyn Krueger on Monday to reach the last 16.
The World No. 2 is hoping to equal her career-best 15 consecutive victories set in 2020-21.
The three-time Grand Slam winner won four titles in China between 2018 to 2019.
The reigning Australian Open and US Open champion is bidding to win her second straight WTA 1000 title this week.
Sabalenka wrapped up the match with a forehand winner to reach the last 16 and claim her 14th consecutive win.
Her streak began with a title at Cincinnati in August and continued with a run to the championship at the US Open earlier this month. Sabalenka has also claimed 39 wins in China since her debut in Tianjin in 2017. The 26-year-old will next face No.18 seed Madison Keys for a spot in the quarterfinals.