On October 11th, at the 2024 Wuhan Open, Chinese players Zheng Qinwen and Wang Xinyu both secured their spots in the semifinals, setting the stage for a “China Derby.” This marks the first time two Chinese players have met in the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event.
Wang Xinyu was the first to make headlines that day, overcoming Russia’s Alexandra Alexandrova in a nail-biting match. After saving match points in the decisive third set, she rallied to victory, earning her first-ever semifinal appearance in a WTA 1000 singles event. Reflecting on this significant win, Wang stated, “It was an extremely tough match. Both of us gave it our all, and winning really means a lot to me.”
Later that evening, another pivotal match took place as Zheng Qinwen faced off against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. Zheng dominated the first set with a score of 6-2, but Paolini bounced back, taking the second set 6-3. The final set was a fierce battle, with Zheng ultimately emerging victorious at 6-3.
Zheng commented on her performance, saying, “Staying stable under my opponent’s aggressive play wasn’t easy. This victory feels absolutely exhilarating.” Looking ahead to the semifinals, she noted that the presence of two Chinese players in the final four indicates a rising level of talent in China’s tennis scene.
In other matches, two-time Wuhan Open champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka, along with American player Coco Gauff, each defeated their respective opponents, setting up an exciting next round as they compete for a spot in the finals.
