QF preview: Swiatek Chasing Another China Open title

No one left in the China Open field has accomplished more than Iga Swiatek.

The former World No. 1 spent 125 weeks atop the rankings and has won six Grand Slam titles and 12 WTA 1000 titles.

She also won the China Open in 2023.

Now, the No. 8 seed enters Friday’s quarterfinal against Elise Mertens playing arguably the best tennis of anyone remaining in the field. Swiatek cruised past No. 10 seed Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-3 in the Round of 16.

“Of course, I have great memories,” Swiatek said of the event. “In 2023, this is the first (WTA) 1000 tournament that I won (that year).”

Three years later, Swiatek still enjoys returning to Beijing.

“I really like coming back here,” she said. “It’s a great tournament to be. … Even without the good memories, I would love to come back here.” 

Mertens already has one personal hurdle out of the way this week. She knocked out No. 3 seed Coco Gauff on Wednesday, beating the American for the first time after losing their previous five meetings.

Mertens has had mixed results in Beijing, with a 6-6 record at the China Open. But her fourth-round appearance is already  her deepest run in seven appearances.

Now she has a chance to go even further.

Mertens has lost both of her previous meetings with Swiatek.

“I think she brings a lot of intensity in the game,” Mertens said. “She definitely takes the ball a little bit earlier maybe than most players. You kind of have to not let it bounce, play it back. I have to be aggressive enough to play against her. But yeah, she’s mentally tough. She’s a great competitor.

“I’m looking forward to that match.”

The winner of Swiatek-Mertens will face the winner of Friday’s other quarterfinal between Zheng Qinwen and Elina Svitolina in a Saturday semifinal. 

At No. 7 in the world rankings, Svitolina is the second-highest-ranked player remaining in the quarterfinals, behind No. 5 Mirra Andreeva. The 32-year-old is making her eighth appearance at the China Open and has a chance to match her best run here, a semifinal appearance in 2016.

Svitolina, a former world No. 3, is coming off a 6-2, 6-3 win over American Ann Li in the fourth round. She has played just one three-set match in her three victories to reach the quarterfinals.

Zheng has taken the harder road.

Since the tiered format was introduced in 1990, Zheng is just the second player to win four three-set matches en route to a Tier I/WTA 1000 quarterfinal, joining Sara Sorribes Tormo at the 2021 Miami Open.

She will also have the crowd behind her Friday.

“This brings me extra pressure,” admitted Zheng, a 2024 China open semifinalist, “but also helps me to really put the effort, put the energy on court.

“I still want to be there, fight until the end in front of my home crowd. I think that’s the benefit part.”