Chinese tennis sensation, Zheng Qinwen, made a triumphant return to form at the Indian Wells tournament, by dispatching two-time Grand Slam winner, Victoria Azarenka, in straight sets. The victory marked Zheng’s first win since the Australian Open, effectively ending a three-match losing streak.
The eighth-seeded Zheng came out swinging in the scorching desert heat, taking the first three games of the match with aplomb. Despite a brief stumble in the seventh game when Azarenka broke her serve, Zheng quickly regained her composure. She returned the favor in the eighth game and then held her serve to take the first set 6-3.
The second set mirrored the first in many ways. Zheng, though dominating, saw Azarenka fight back from a break down twice. But, just as in the first set, Zheng remained undeterred. She broke Azarenka’s serve in the crucial ninth game and then held her own in the following game to clinch the set 6-4, and thus the match.
Her victory sets the stage for a showdown with world No. 49, Lulu Sun, in the Indian Wells round-of-16. Should Zheng emerge victorious in this encounter, it would mark her first consecutive wins in the year 2025.
Reflecting on her victory, the world No. 9 was visibly elated. She shared, “It’s not easy. I came to Indian Wells three times but it’s my first time in the third round. Also my first time beating Azarenka. Such a great player. I’m really happy tonight.”
Zheng’s win over Azarenka was, indeed, a significant achievement. Prior to this match, the former world No. 1 Azarenka had bested the Chinese player twice – in their 2023 Adelaide and 2024 Miami matches.
Zheng, who had suffered these defeats at the tender ages of 19 and 21, expressed her gratitude to the supportive crowd at Indian Wells, saying, “It’s really tough to face her. She beat me twice when I was 19 and 21 years old. Just really happy to get this match. Thanks for all the crowd who came to support tonight.”
As Zheng strides into her next match, her recent victory serves as a testament to her grit and determination, marking her as a player to watch in the annals of international tennis.
