Key Takeaways
- Poland's Swiatek overcame a three-set test to advance to the China Open quarter-finals.
- Zheng Qinwen, the home hope, also secured a spot after a tough three-set match.
- Alex de Minaur secured a place in the men's final after Hurkacz retired in their match.
Former world number one Iga Swiatek staged a comeback to advance to the last 16 at the China Open on Monday, overcoming frustration to beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic in a three-set match.
Swiatek, who served for the set, dominated a tie-break to secure victory with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2.
The 25-year-old from Poland expressed her determination, saying, 'I was just angry, wanted to change something, because clearly it wasn’t working.'
She will face American teenager Iva Jovic for a spot in the quarter-finals.
China’s Zheng Qinwen, the current world number 54, also advanced after enduring a three-set test against Marie Bouzkova.
Zheng, who had already spent more than five hours on court in the first two rounds, commented, 'I gave everything.'
She thanked the home crowd for their support but noted distractions during play, adding, 'Sometimes I’m a bit screaming in Chinese, because I really see you guys are moving.'
Zheng will face 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva, who defeated top seed Elena Rybakina in the second round.
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova also advanced and will face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the last 16.
Alex de Minaur secured the first spot in the men’s final after Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz retired in their second set 4-6, 2-3.
The Australian will face either Novak Djokovic or Daniil Medvedev in the semi-final, as the former world number ones were set to play each other.
Djokovic, 39, extended his unbeaten streak in Beijing to 32 matches after beating top seed Alexander Zverev in a three-set thriller on Sunday.
I was just angry, wanted to change something, because clearly it wasn’t working.
Iga Swiatek, Former world number one
I gave everything.
Zheng Qinwen, China’s current world number 54
Sometimes I’m a bit screaming in Chinese, because I really see you guys are moving.
Zheng Qinwen, China’s current world number 54
