Zheng Qinwen became the first Chinese player to win the women’s singles title in the China Open 2026 on Sunday, October 11, defeating Russia’s Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 in the women’s singles final of the 2026 China Open in Beijing.
Zheng was the first Chinese woman to win a WTA 1000 title and she became the first player to win the women’s singles title at the Beijing tournament.
The 24-year-old also ended her title drought, with her previous tournament win coming in Tokyo in October 2024. Zheng's performance in Beijing was a watershed moment in her comeback and a great moment for Chinese tennis fans. The former world No. 4 was able to bounce back from an early setback in the final and win in straight sets.
Zheng felt so happy to win the title in front of her home crowd on the morning of the match and she said she was able to make the title presentation in front of her home crowd.
She described the win as a dream and said the victory was a dream and that it was an important moment for her to win the trophy in Beijing. For the Chinese player, she had been trying to regain her fitness after an injury-hit season.
Zheng Qinwen Overcomes Mirra Andreeva in Two Sets
The final began with Andreeva putting Zheng under pressure from the baseline. The Russian, ranked fourth in the tournament, made a bold opening step and looked to claim the opening set. But Zheng was composed and battled back into the game.
The Chinese player saved three set points to take the first set 7-5 after being down 5-3. She then won the next two games to take the first set 7-5 to turn a tough situation into an advantage. Her concentration in the crucial stages was crucial as the home crowd rallied behind her.
The second set was very competitive as both players were on serve early. Andreeva was going to hold off Zheng but the Chinese star found a chance in the ninth game. She broke the Russian's serve with a shot down the line to make it 5-4.
Zheng then served for the championship. In the game, she committed a double fault but she recovered with an ace and won on her first match point to get 6-4. The win reflected her will and ability to come up with a strong shot at the end.
Zheng told me after the match that it was a tough match and that she thought Andreeva did a good job. She said taking the match one point at a time helped her to keep going despite feeling physically and mentally tired after playing several matches.
Injury Challenges and a Remarkable Comeback
The title in the China Open came after a difficult time in Zheng’s career. After her Olympic gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Games, the Chinese player suffered a long-term right elbow injury that disrupted her progress on the WTA Tour.
Zheng had surgery in July 2025, and her ranking tumbled from a career-high No. 4 in 2024 to No. 160 in mid-June 2026, the report said. Returning to top-level competition took patience and continued work as she began to rebuild her form.
Her Beijing success was a big step in that recovery. Zheng won 1,000 ranking points and $1,151,380 in prize money and rose to No. 23 in the live WTA rankings. The result showed her skill to stand up against the best players despite all that she had faced.
Zheng also thanked her team for supporting her through a tough year. She said their support and the spirit of the home crowd helped her through the final. Her emotions after the victory were intense because of the months of setbacks she had faced.
Mirra Andreeva Reaches the China Open Final
While Andreeva failed to win the title, reaching the final was still a big achievement in her Beijing career. The Russian teen dominated the tournament and faced Zheng in the final match.
Andreeva praised the tournament and said she had enjoyed her time in Beijing despite the defeat. Her performance also put her in line for a career-high world No. 3, as stated in the supplied report.
The final was the second meeting between Zheng and Andreeva. Zheng had previously beaten the Russian in the quarter-finals of the 2024 China Open, so the latest victory was another important win in their developing rivalry.
Andreeva's strong start in the final showed that she could challenge Zheng, but the Chinese player's composure in the decisive moments ultimately proved decisive. Saving set points in the opening set and converting the key break in the second allowed Zheng to take control of the match.
Historic China Open Victory for Chinese Tennis
Since 2004, the China Open has been an important tournament on the global tennis calendar. Zheng's victory marked a landmark result for Chinese women's tennis at the Beijing tournament, with the home player becoming the first Chinese woman to win the women's singles title.
For Zheng, the championship was more than a tournament win. It ended her title drought, gave her an opportunity to overcome injury, and allowed her to celebrate in front of her home fans.
Her first WTA 1000 crown also enhanced her position on tour as she continued her comeback. While it does not erase all the pain of the previous year, it provides a significant boost for her future competitions.
Zheng Qinwen has added another big milestone to her career now that she has captured the Beijing title. This achievement marks a significant moment for Zheng Qinwen as she looks to achieve even more. Her straight-sets win over Andreeva will be remembered as a historic home-soil victory and an important chapter in her return to competitive success.
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