Breaking serve in a thrilling, high-stakes battle! Zheng Qinwen rallies to advance to the Indian Wells Round of 16, exacting her revenge.
At noon on March 10 Beijing time, a highly anticipated third-round singles match at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells tournament kicked off with intense action as Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen faced off against New Zealand's Chinese-American player, Lu Lu Sun. In the end, Zheng Qinwen delivered a dominant performance, defeating Sun Lu Lu in straight sets 6-4 and 7-5 to advance directly into the quarterfinals. This victory wasn’t just a testament to her skill—it was also a thrilling revenge match!
Zheng Qinwen, 22 years old and ranked No. 9 in the world, has been under intense scrutiny as the No. 8 seed in this year's tournament. Earlier in the second round, she stunned former World No. 1 and Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka with a 2-0 victory, advancing to the last 32. Not only did this win snap her personal three-match losing streak, but it also marked Zheng's first-ever triumph over Azarenka.
Sun Lulu is 23 years old this year and currently ranks No. 49 in the world, with a career-high ranking of 39. She plays left-handed, and her skill level should not be underestimated. Last year at Wimbledon, Sun Lulu pulled off an impressive 2-1 comeback victory against Zheng Qinwen in the first round, stunning the young Chinese star and sending her home early. This time around, Zheng Qinwen is determined to rewrite history and turn the tables on her opponent.
At the start of the match, both players quickly found their rhythm and engaged in a fierce battle. In the first set, Sun Lulu served first, and after four tightly contested games—each player holding serve—the score remained tied at 2-2, setting the stage for an intense rally. In the fifth game, Zheng Qinwen capitalized on a tiny weakness in Sun Lulu's service game, breaking her serve decisively to take a 3-2 lead. But Sun Lulu quickly regrouped, immediately breaking back in the very next game, bringing the score level once again.
In the crucial seventh game, Zheng Qinwen once again broke her opponent's serve with outstanding baseline attacks and tenacious defense, extending her lead to 4-3. Both players then held their own serves, but when Zheng reached her first match point on serve, she faced a brief challenge before sealing the set with a steady performance—saving just one break point en route—to take the opening set 6-4.
In the second set, Zheng Qinwen carried over the strong momentum from the end of the first set, immediately breaking Sun Lulu's serve at the outset and then holding her own to take a 2-0 lead. But Sun Lulu refused to back down, managing to hold and break back in quick succession, leveling the score at 2-2. From there, both players engaged in another intense battle of breaks, with the score swinging back and forth—each game unfolding as a thrilling, nail-biting contest.
In the fifth game, Zheng Qinwen ran tirelessly, actively looking for opportunities, and once again forced a break point—this time converting it successfully. In the sixth game, despite saving three break points, Zheng Qinwen ultimately fell on her fourth attempt. However, she quickly regained her focus, ensuring the score gap didn’t widen further. By the seventh game, Zheng Qinwen broke again, taking a 4-3 lead. In the eighth game, she held serve with just enough composure to maintain her advantage, extending her lead to 5-3.
In the ninth game, Sun Lulu held her serve, setting up Zheng Qinwen's crucial match-point service game. However, Zheng Qinwen double-faulted on break point, leveling the score at 5-5. At the critical moment, Zheng Qinwen showcased her exceptional mental strength, quickly breaking back in the 11th game and taking a commanding 6-5 lead into her second match-point service game. This time, she left her opponent with no chance, sealing the victory without dropping a single point—and advancing to the round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Sun Lulu.
This victory is hugely significant for Zheng Qinwen—it not only marked her successful revenge against last year’s Wimbledon loss but also earned her a spot in the Indian Wells round of 16 for the first time, tying her personal best performance at this prestigious tournament and propelling her back into the No. 8 spot in the world rankings. In the next round, Zheng will face off against No. 18 seed and Ukrainian player Kostyuk in the quarterfinals. The two players have already met twice before, with each claiming one win, so this match promises to be another thrilling clash between two top contenders.
Zheng Qinwen’s outstanding performance in the match fully showcased her remarkable strength and unwavering determination. Her calm handling of crucial points and break opportunities, as well as her ability to quickly regain focus and launch a fierce comeback when trailing, left fans in awe. At the Indian Wells tournament, Zheng Qinwen is steadily moving forward toward even greater achievements—let’s all look forward to her continuing to deliver impressive results in the upcoming matches and helping Chinese tennis write more chapters of glory!
