Zheng Qinwen Beats Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 to Become First Chinese Winner of China Open

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen became the first Chinese player to win the China Open on Sunday, defeating French Open champion Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 in the final at the Capital Group Diamond in Beijing. The 24-year-old wildcard, ranked No. 54 after a year of injury setbacks, sealed her maiden WTA 1000 title with an ace on her first match point and collapsed to the court in tears of joy.

China Open final: Zheng’s comeback moment

Zheng saved three set points in the first set with Andreeva serving at 5-4, levelled at 5-5, and then won 11 consecutive points to take the set 7-5, sending down an ace to close it. In the second set, Andreeva saved three break points at 4-4, but Zheng broke in the ninth game and sealed the match in one hour and 43 minutes with an ace on her first match point.

The crowd in Beijing was at times disruptive as cheers erupted before points ended, but Zheng held her nerve on the big points. “The feeling is incredible. Winning here in Beijing, in front of my home crowd, has always been one of my dreams,” she said after the match.

A year of setbacks before glory

Zheng’s triumph completes a remarkable comeback. Since winning Olympic gold at Paris 2024, a persistent right elbow injury disrupted her career and required surgery in July 2025. Her ranking subsequently fell from a career-high No. 4 to as low as No. 160 in mid-June 2026. She played the US Open as a qualifier in August and reached the quarterfinals, twice rallying from 5-0 deficits.

Her powerful serve was decisive throughout the Beijing week — she hit 51 aces, a total surpassed at a single tour-level event this season only by world No. 1 Elena Rybakina, who hit 54 at the US Open. “I’ve been through a very tough year,” Zheng said. “This title belongs to all of you, too.”

Final match facts

Respect for Andreeva

Zheng paid tribute to the 19-year-old Russian, congratulating Andreeva on her French Open title earlier this year. “Mirra is a great player… you are such a young and talented player, and congratulations to you and your team on everything you’ve achieved,” she said during the trophy ceremony. The final was the pair’s second meeting at the China Open — Zheng also beat Andreeva in the 2024 quarterfinals.

Read more on the road to the final at watannews.dk, where Andreeva reached the semifinals earlier this week.

Conclusion

Zheng Qinwen’s historic China Open victory — the first by a home player in the tournament’s 22-year history — caps one of tennis’s great comeback stories. From elbow surgery and a ranking slide to No. 160, she is back among the game’s elite, and the home crowd in Beijing will remember this night for a very long time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the China Open 2026?

Zheng Qinwen, beating Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 in the final on October 11, 2026.

Why is this win historic?

Zheng is the first Chinese player to win the China Open since the tournament began in 2004.

What was Zheng’s ranking before the tournament?

No. 54 — she entered as a wildcard after her ranking fell as low as No. 160 following elbow surgery in July 2025.

What happened in the final’s key moments?

Zheng saved three set points at 4-5 in the first set, won 11 straight points to take it 7-5, broke at 4-4 in the second, and sealed the match with an ace.

What is next for both players?

Zheng returns to No. 23 in the rankings, while Andreeva rises to a career-high No. 3 despite the defeat.