China Open 2026, Beijing - WTA 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

QF Matches,
Friday 9th October,

Svitolina (6) vs WC Zheng First Meeting

Swiatek (8) vs Mertens (13) Swiatek leads their H2H 2-0

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

First QF Match,

Svitolina (6) vs Zheng WC who just celebrated her 24th birthday yesterday, first meeting between these 2 players
A real contrast of styles with these 2 players
Zheng likes to play first strike tennis, is a flat heavy hitter of the ball, though she can also use spin, when 'on' she can hit winners from any part of the court, since having elbow surgery in 2025, taking time off the tour, it has taken Zheng awhile to find her level, she did make the QFs at the USO this year
Svitolina more of a defensive player, though can turn defense into offense, likes to change direction, can be a difficult player to defeat her return and defensive skills are one of the best in the WTA Top Ten and has had a very consistent year so far
Zheng has started well and hasnt let Svitolina in the match, and will serve for the 1st set 5-2
Zheng played a poor service game, her first all set and Svtolina finding good depth and broke
Zheng with the 2nd chance to serve out the 1st set no trouble winning 6-3

It has been on serve in the 2nd set, Svitolina has being making headways into Zheng's service game, with good depth on returns, absorbing the pace better, and also re directing
Svitolina breaks to love and will serve 4-3
Just like that Zheng resets and refocused and broke back
4 games all.
Wonderful cross court fhand winner from Zheng, just sails past Svitolina on court
Svitolina will now serve to try to force a TB for the 2nd set 5-6
TB for the 2nd set. Zheng to serve first.
Tight TB for the 2nd set, Zheng produced a great fh winner on her 2nd MP
Zheng WC d Svitolina 63 76(6) and of course the home town crowd are delighted, a well deserved win from Zheng, her first WTA1000 SF since Rome last year
Zheng will play the winner of Swaitek and Mertens in the SF.

 

[AnonymousFan]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Thanks AF I will now watch highlights of the match, Mertens seems to be on a 'roll' in Beijing getting her first win over Gauff

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Okay I have finished watching the highlights of Swaitek v Mertens QF match,

Mertens was rock solid on serve from start to finish. Swiatek never earned a single BP, Mertens played with freedom on return
Mertens was flawless in the TB winning all 7 points.

Mertens carried her momentum into the 2nd set. Mertens broke, helped by a number of UFE from Swiatek, while she kept her own mistakes to a minimum, Served out the match 63 to win.

Mertens is having a great tournament so far defeating Gauff and Swiatek, who she hasnt been able to win against either player previously

Mertens will face WC Zheng in the SF

NOTE:
The QF loss is a big blow to Swiatek's WTA Final chances, she needs a small miracle now in the next 3 weeks
2 Spots left

 

[britbox]

Video Highlights

 

[britbox]

Okay I have finished watching the highlights of Swaitek v Mertens QF match,

Mertens was rock solid on serve from start to finish. Swiatek never earned a single BP, Mertens played with freedom on return
Mertens was flawless in the TB winning all 7 points.

Mertens carried her momentum into the 2nd set. Mertens broke, helped by a number of UFE from Swiatek, while she kept her own mistakes to a minimum, Served out the match 63 to win.

Mertens is having a great tournament so far defeating Gauff and Swiatek, who she hasnt been able to win against either player previously

Mertens will face WC Zheng in the SF

NOTE:
The QF loss is a big blow to Swiatek's WTA Final chances, she needs a small miracle now in the next 3 weeks
2 Spots left

Awful year for Swiatek by her standards.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Awful year for Swiatek by her standards.

Agree, players have worked out how to defeat her, and her serves needs attention ASAP I have been saying that all year.Interesting to see if she stays with Roig after this season.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Saturday 10th October,
SFs,

Andreeva (4) vs Bartunkova (26) Andreeva leads their H2H 1-0

Zheng WC vs Mertens (13) Zheng leads their H2H 1-0 First meeting on a hard court ( their only match was in 2025 Charleston, on clay)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Andreeva off to a good start with a break early in the 1st set and leads 3-0
Nikola needs to show patience, making errors and trying to finish the point too quick, cant afford to do that against Andreeva, I know her game is aggressive, she needs 'controlled aggression'., also having to hit more shots and rallies against Andreeva that has been her undoing so far in this match, used to playing 4 quick shots.
OH dear 2 DFs from Nikola and she is broken again, Mirra really using pressure on the return
Nikola breaks to love with a great fhand down the line, lets see if she can build on that?. Nikola holds serve.
Andreeva 5-2
Andreeva with SP, snuffed out by Nikola which was a long rally which she managed to win
You have to watch when you drop shot Andreeva she is a very good athlete and gets to balls well,
2nd SP for Andreeva and great return and wins the 1st set 62

Nikola needs to build a point and wait for the opportunity to attack, again forcing and made an error and she is broken early in the 2nd set
Andreeva leads 4-1
Andreeva leads 5-2 and is just a game away from the final, I would like to see her 1st serve improve, it needs to be more effective, at times she has to struggle through her service games, it needs to be more 'consistent' also improve her temperament, which can be her downfall in matches.
Nikola has run out of ideas how to combat the overall game of Andreeva, though she has shown this week she has a good overall game, likes to play first strike tennis, needs to build points more and dont pull the trigger too fast,she is young and can improve in area's, goodness me how many good players have come out of Czech? my personal favorites Muchova and Kvitova

Well done to Mirra, control of the match from start to finish, her 4th WTA1000 final
Well done to Nikola a great week taking out players, Sabalenka and Muchova

Andreeva will play the winner of Zheng v Mertens in the final

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just finished watching highlights of the 2nd SF Zheng v Mertens

Zheng started aggressively, breaking ti build a lead 3-0, Mertens fought back, leveling the set at 4 all, after breaking back in the 7th game
At 6-5, Mertens serving at 30 all in the 12th game, Zheng struck a crucial winner to earn a SP and capitalized with a deep return that Mertens couldnt return, Zheng 7-5
Zheng carried her momentum straight into the 2nd set, winning the opening 3 games, Zheng secured another break later in the 8th game to close out the set 62 and seal the straight sets victory.
Zheng made history to become the first Chinese player to reach the China Open where she will play Mirra Andreeva
Impressive from Zheng considering she dropped out of the Top 100 mid 2026 ( working her way back to form after elbow surgery last year)

 

[britbox]

Semis Video Highlights

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ladies Singles Final,
Sunday 11th October,

Mirra Andreeva (4) vs WC Zheng,

The only meeting was in Beijing 2 years ago when Zheng came back being down a set won 57 60 64 in the QFs.

Andreeva is into her 5th final of 2026
Since the China's Open beginning in 2004 on the WTA Tour no Chinese player has won the title, Zheng is also the first player from China to reach the final.

Regardless of the result, Andreeva is projected to be the new World No 3, also she has already qualified for the WTA Finals in IW

Zheng was ranked No 160 in mid-June, but after a great Summer and early fall, she's projected to be back into the Top 30.

Good luck to both players.

Ladies Double Final ( will be played before the Ladies Singles Final)

Siniakova /Zhang (1) vs Stefani/Dabrowski (2)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Andreeva and Zheng are warming up on court
Zheng won the toss and will receive
A nervy start from Zheng, ( which is kind of expected) and Andreeva breaks
Zheng breaks back immediately with good returning
On serve early in the 1st set Andreeva 2-1
4 games all, both ladies serving well in their respective service games
Andreeva with 2 SP returning Zheng serve well
Zheng saves 1 SP with a good overhead
Another save from Zheng as Andreeva fhand long
Andreeva with No 3 SP with a good bhand down the line winner
Zheng again saves another SP with a good follow through to the net with a volley
Zheng saves 3 SPs
5 games all
Zheng with 3 BPs with a great fhand winner
Zheng breaks to love and will now serve for the 1st set 6-5
Zheng finishes with an Ace and had a love service game wins the 1st set 7-5

Zheng breaks Andreeva in her first service game of the 2nd set
Andreeva immediately breaks back, Zheng with a poor service game as she has all the momentum winning the 1st set
2 wonderful bhands from Zheng just great timing on her bhand, Andreeva holds her serve
2 games all
Zheng is serving at 40% 1st serve, though her 2nd serve is holding firm, her aggressive baseline game is giving her advantage, Mirra should be doing more attacking the 1st serve of Zheng
4 games all
Zheng with a BP, though very late on the return
On the run Zheng produces a great bh cross court winner
Snuffed out by Andreeva with a good first serve
Zheng with her 3rd BP, again snuffed out by an Ace from Andreeva, deuce for the 4th time in her service game
Just great ball striking from Zheng her 4th BP and she breaks and will serve for the match at 5-4
Zheng with CH Point and to make history and she produces an Ace
Zheng d Andreeva to become the first Chinese player to win the China Open 75 64 over Andreeva, Zheng played well considering she had a low 1st serve percentage, she placed her 2nd serve very well and found her best serve when she produced 2 Aces serving out the match

Zheng back into Top 25 at #23
2nd Big title, her 6th title
Wins tournament as a wild card
1st title since Tokyo 2024

Enjoyed the match, I am off to bed


The No 2 seeds Dabrowski/Stefani won the Ladies Doubles title defeating the No 1 seeds Siniakova/Zhang 61 62