From A to Z: Andreeva, Zheng Clash With China Open History On the Line

It's a battle of champions for the China Open title on Sunday. 

Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva will face hometown hero and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.

Zheng is the first player from China to make the China Open singles final. She'll be looking to one further and become the first homegrown champion on Sunday. 

“In a way it’s pressure,” Zheng said about playing in front of the Chinese fans. “At the same time, it gives me motivation. I just need to use (it) in the right way.” 

The 19-year-old Andreeva continues the best year of her career, having won three titles, including her first Grand Slam in Paris. The young star will have to play against Zheng and the crowd in the final. 

“I pretty much have some experience playing against local players,” Andreeva said. “I think that’s going to be fine. We all know that she’s playing at home.”  

Zheng defeated Andreeva in their only previous match, which was at the China Open two years ago. She came back from a set down to win in the quarterfinals. 

Of course, much has happened since that 2024 match. For both women.

“I think for sure in these two years, both of us, we’ve become more mature,” Zheng said. “She just won Roland Garros this year, (it) was a really great achievement for her.” 

Zheng had an elbow injury in 2025 that caused her to drop from her career high No. 4 ranking to outside the top 150. The injury came the year after she was immortalized in Chinese tennis history, winning the gold medal in the Paris Olympics and beating Iga Swiatek on the clay at Roland Garros, where Swiatek had won the previous three titles.  

Zheng has been returning to her top form in the last month, winning 13 of her last 14 matches and making the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.

“She’s been coming back, playing better,” Andreeva said. "She’s been beating a lot of great players.” 

Andreeva has been dominant after an early stumble in the tournament, losing her first set to Yuan Yue before winning her next 10 sets to make the final.  

“My first match was kind of up and down a lot, felt like I didn’t play my best,” Andreeva said. “Every match that I’ve been playing, I was feeling better and better physically and mentally.”  

Andreeva has the advantage of rest, winning all her matches in under two hours, compared to Zheng who has spent a tournament-high 13 hours and 33 minutes on court, with four matches going three sets and over two hours.  

Zheng has found success playing very aggressively, hitting 219 winners through six matches in Beijing. No player has hit more winners in any tournament this year. 

“I feel like Qinwen, obviously she’s more aggressive,” Andreeva said. “She likes to hit a lot of balls. She tries to play fast.” 

The final will see a juxtaposition of styles, as Zheng’s power will go against Andreeva’s more consistent and tactical play. 

“She’s always there fighting, very consistent player,” Zheng said. “I would say it is not an easy match, but also I’m a tough player. Tomorrow is going to be a hard battle.” 

Zheng Qinwen isn’t the only Chinese woman with something to play for on Sunday. Zhang Shuai and Katerina Siniakova will take on Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani for the title.