China Open: Zheng Qinwen Back in Semifinals After Comeback

Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 China Open in Beijing on October 9, defeating sixth seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-3, 7-6(6) in the women’s singles quarterfinal. In the doubles draw, veteran Zhang Shuai and Czech partner Katerina Siniakova reached the semifinals as the top seeds, the best result the pair has achieved at the tournament, according to Xinhua News.

A Return to Form

The result marks Zheng’s return to the China Open semifinals, matching her personal best at the event, which she first set in 2024. It was also her first win since turning 24, a day after she celebrated her birthday on October 8.

Zheng was the only unseeded player in the women’s singles quarterfinals. The match was the first career meeting between the two players in official competition. In the second-set tiebreak, Zheng trailed 0-2 before rallying to win it 8-6, converting her second match point with a forehand winner down the line, as detailed by Zhibo8.

Speaking after the match, Zheng reflected on a difficult stretch in her career.

“I really didn’t expect this low period to last so long,” she said. “I’m grateful for every match I’ve won, because I know how much effort I’ve put in to be able to stand here.”

She added that she was pleased with her composure in the decisive moments. “Those last two points in the tiebreak, I think I did very well, because I actively went out and won that point,” she said. “I’m also starting to better control my winners and unforced errors, and I think making the right choices as a player is really important.”

From a Long Low Point

The victory caps a remarkable comeback season for Zheng, an Olympic champion in women’s singles. She underwent elbow surgery and was sidelined for roughly eight months before returning to competition. According to Lianhe Zaobao, Zheng entered the 2026 US Open from qualifying and won seven straight matches to reach the quarterfinals, including a comeback win over Iga Swiatek in the round of 16 and a victory over Madison Keys. She lost in the quarterfinals to Elena Rybakina.

Her run in Beijing has confirmed that the “long low period” brought on by the injury is behind her.

Zhang Shuai’s Best Run Yet

In doubles, Zhang and Siniakova defeated the fifth-seeded team of Storm Hunter and Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinal, extending their winning streak to 12 matches across all events. It was the partnership’s first-ever appearance in a China Open women’s doubles semifinal.

Zhang, who won silver in women’s singles at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, missed this year’s China Open singles draw because of the Asian Games schedule and focused on doubles instead.

“In past years at the China Open I’ve had relatively good performances in singles,” she said. “This year gave me a chance to focus on doubles, and my partner is so good. We played very aggressively throughout the match, and we’re very satisfied with our coordination.”

Siniakova, a Czech doubles specialist and multiple Grand Slam doubles champion, is regarded as one of the best doubles players in the world, and the pairing’s form has made them a leading contender for the title.

What’s Next

Zheng faces 13th seed Elise Mertens of Belgium in the semifinals on the evening of October 10. Mertens reached the last four by eliminating both Coco Gauff and Swiatek. The two have met once before, at the 2025 WTA 500 Charleston event, where Zheng won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

The China Open 2026 runs from September 28 to October 11 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, with finals played on Diamond Court, according to Beijing Bendibao.

With Zheng back in contention and Zhang chasing a home doubles title, the closing days of the tournament offer Chinese fans a rare opportunity to see the country’s leading players competing deep into the draw on home soil.