Day 8 Preview: Zheng, Gauff headline with quarterfinals spots on the line

Zheng Qinwen is the undisputed fan favorite in the women’s draw of the China Open, with the home crowd squarely behind its biggest remaining star. She brings out the best out of the frenzied crowd. Unfortunately for her, that tends to bring out the best in her opponents.

“I just think I believe here everybody wants to take me down,” Zheng said. “They really show their best tennis.”

Zheng’s Round of 16 matchup with Armenian qualifier Alina Charaeva is among the highlights of Day 8 at the China Open. 

A semifinalist in 2024, Zheng’s run has been full of obstacles. She has gone three sets in each of her three matches, besting her compatriot Shi Han and seeded players Anna Kalinskaya and Marie Bouzková. In so doing, she has successfully built on her momentum earned in her incredible U.S. Open run, where she came through qualifying to the quarterfinals. That Cinderella story finally ended with a  three-set loss to eventual champion and World No. 1 Elena Rybakina. 

Zheng must get past Chareava, who has also made personal history in Beijing. After a stunning upset over top-seeded Rybakina, the World No. 118 backed up her win on Monday with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Sonay Kartal. Now in a WTA Round of 16 for the first time in her career, Chareava hopes to extend her breakthrough week and reach a first WTA 1000 quarterfinal.  

Three Americans will continue their China Open campaigns on Wednesday. 2024 champion Coco Gauff, who is fresh off of a triumph over 16-year-old Sun Xinran, will take on No. 13 seed Elise Mertens. 

Gauff has never lost before the semifinals in her three previous China Open campaigns, and the No. 3 seed will hope to keep the streak alive in her quest for a second China Open title. The American leads the head-to-head with Mertens 5-0, with their most recent meeting being a comeback win in Dubai earlier this year. 

18-year-old American Iva Jovic will also be tested against 2023 China Open champion Iga Swiatek. Jovic currently sits at a career high ranking of No. 13 and won the WTA 500 title in Guadalajara in September. Jovic has enjoyed a number of exciting matches this year, including a three-hour thriller over fellow up-and-comer Alexandra Eala at the U.S. Open.

Swiatek will certainly be ready for the fight. The No. 8 seed overcame a battle of her own in a three-set victory over Donna Vekic in the previous round. Every win matters for the former No. 1, who is fighting to snag one of the last qualifying spots for the season-ending WTA Finals. 

Finally, American Ann Li will take on No. 6 seed Elina Svitolina. Li upset No. 9 seed Belinda Bencic on Monday and is hoping to reach her first career WTA 1000 quarterfinal. Svitolina, who triumphed over No. 25 seed Maria Sakkari in the last round, won their only previous match, way back at 2021 Roland Garros. 

By Maya Sabapathy