Zheng Qinwen reaches China Open semifinals with straight-set win

China's Zheng Qinwen celebrates after winning against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in their women's singles quarterfinal at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 9, 2026. /VCG

Home favorite Zheng Qinwen advanced to her second China Open semifinal by defeating sixth seed Elina Svitolina in straight sets.

Zheng opened the match with a break of serve to take a 2-0 lead, then broke twice more to claim the first set 6-3.

The second set was much closer. Neither player dropped serve, sending the set to a tiebreak. 24-year-old Zheng converted her second match point to win the tiebreak 8-6.

The victory sent Zheng into her fourth career WTA 1000 semifinal and her third on Chinese soil, following her runs in Beijing and Wuhan in 2024. The 2024 Paris Olympic champion will now face 13th seed Elise Mertens of Belgium in the semifinals. Should Zheng win her semifinal clash, she will become the first Chinese woman to reach the final of the China Open in the modern era.