In a compelling second-round match at the Credit One Charleston Open, No. 3 seed Zheng Qinwen from China showcased her prowess on clay, overcoming Greece`s Maria Sakkari with a score of 6-4, 6-1. This victory propels Zheng into the Round of 16.
Zheng, making her second appearance in Charleston since her debut in 2022 and holding the Olympic gold medal, required 1 hour and 32 minutes to defeat Sakkari, a former World No. 3 and a Charleston semifinalist from the previous year.
During her on-court interview, Zheng commented on the transition from hard courts to clay, stating, `[I knew] when I have to attack, when I have to defend, because everybody here is going to make the transition from hard to clay. I believe whoever adapts better here has a higher chance to win the tournament.`
Key highlights from the match include:
Zheng`s Clay-Court Momentum Continues: While Sakkari held a prior 2-1 advantage over Zheng, all their previous encounters were on hard courts. Clay presented a different scenario. Zheng`s last clay court appearance before Charleston was her triumphant journey to Olympic gold in Paris 2024, played on the renowned Roland Garros clay.
Zheng carried her clay-court confidence into this match, now boasting a 12-match winning streak on this surface, including her title defense at Palermo before the Olympics.
In contrast, Sakkari`s ranking has declined from No. 7 to No. 64 in the past year, with a 6-11 record for the current year. She aimed for her first Top 10 victory in over a year but has now extended her streak against Top 10 players to 0-8 since defeating Coco Gauff at the 2024 Indian Wells.
Powerful Shots Lead Zheng: Zheng`s game is particularly effective on clay, where her forceful, deep forehands enable her to control the court. This strength was crucial in a prolonged 3-3 game, securing her the decisive break in the first set.
As the ace leader on the Hologic WTA Tour last year, Zheng`s first serve remains a significant asset, even on clay. A powerful serve helped her save a break point while consolidating her lead to 5-3, eventually securing the first set.
Zheng`s first serve continued to dominate in the second set. It proved crucial when in play, with Zheng winning 87.5 percent of her first-serve points. However, her second serve was more vulnerable, winning only a third of those points.
Nevertheless, Zheng`s effective first serves were sufficient to secure a victory without being broken, successfully saving both break points she faced. Fittingly, her match point was sealed with a commanding forehand, forcing an error from Sakkari.
First Meeting with Next Opponent: Zheng is set to face No. 13 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium in the Round of 16. Mertens advanced by defeating Varvara Gracheva of France 6-3, 7-5 in the final match on Credit One Stadium on Wednesday.
This upcoming match will be a novel experience for Zheng, as she has never competed against Mertens, a former Top 15 player.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth