China's Zheng Qinwen clinches first clay-court win of season at Italian Open

Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen advanced to the third round of the WTA Italian Open on Friday, defeating Serbia's Olga Danilovic 6-1, 6-4 in 90 minutes.

The eighth-seeded Zheng received a first-round bye in Rome. She had previously beaten her second-round opponent, World No. 33 Danilovic, in straight sets at the 2023 United Cup.

Zheng dominated the opening set of their first clay-court meeting, racing out to a 5-0 lead. Despite facing four break points in the seventh game, she held serve and closed out the frame 6-1 with an ace.

The second set saw both players exchange breaks early, before Zheng edged ahead 3-2. She later claimed four consecutive points to grab the eighth game and wrap up the set 6-4, securing her first clay-court win of the season.

"Before going on court, I told myself I needed to be more consistent," Zheng said. "In my last match in Madrid, I had too many unforced errors, so today, my goal was to stay steady first, then look for chances to attack. I feel like I stuck to my game plan well."

Looking ahead to the rest of this tournament at the Foro Italico and the upcoming French Open, World No. 8 Zheng emphasized mental composure. "When my emotions get too restless, it affects my performance on court." she noted. "Now my goal is to quiet my mind, and take it one match at a time."