Historic first-ever all-Chinese WTA 1000 semifinal today

The Wuhan Open is set to make history on Saturday night with the first-ever all-Chinese semifinal at a WTA 1000 event where No 5 seed Zheng Qinwen will take on fellow Chinese player Wang Xinyu in a highly anticipated matchup.

The 22-year-old Olympic champion and 23-year-old Wang will compete for a spot in their first-ever WTA 1000 final.

On Friday night, Zheng triumphed over Italy's No 3 seed Jasmine Paolini in a hard-fought quarterfinal, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Following the victory, Zheng advanced to the semifinals in back-to-back tournaments at both the China Open and the Wuhan Open.

The match, a clash between two top-10 players, showcased Zheng's powerful serves as she delivered 10 aces. The tight three-set battle kept the near-capacity crowd on their feet, cheering for the hometown favorite.

Afterward, Zheng acknowledged Paolini's strong, aggressive play, calling it one of her toughest challenges of the tournament.

"In closely matched games like this, consistency makes all the difference," Zheng said. "I think I maintained my composure during the crucial moments, and that steadiness helped me through. Paolini's forehand was sharp, and she handled the rallies well, but I was able to capitalize on the key points. This is a win I'm truly proud of."

Earlier on Friday afternoon, Wang delivered a dramatic quarterfinal victory, saving two match points and coming back from a break down in the final set to defeat Russian sensation Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(6). The win secured Wang her first-ever WTA 1000 semifinal appearance.

Speaking after the match, Wang expressed her excitement about winning in front of a home crowd. "It was an incredibly tough match, and we both gave everything we had. In the tiebreak, it all came down to just a few key points. I'm thrilled with the result and really looking forward to the next round," she said.

Discussing the significance of her upcoming match, Zheng remarked, "Reaching this milestone alongside Wang demonstrates that China has exceptional players, and our level of play is significantly higher than before."

"Competing against a fellow Chinese player presents a different kind of pressure, but I will approach it as I would any other opponent and focus on my own performance," she added.

The other semifinal will take place on Saturday afternoon, featuring defending champion Aryna Sabalenka who will face off against China Open champion Coco Gauff.

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn