Zheng Qinwen has become the first Chinese player in a decade to reach the last four at the Australian Open after battling back from a set down against Anna Kalinskaya.
The 21-year-old overcame an early setback to prevail 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1, over the Russian. Zheng’s triumph has made her the youngest player from her country to ever reach the semi-final stage in Melbourne Park and the first to do so since Li Na, who won the title in 2014. In her latest match, she hit a total of 42 winners and won 80% of her first service points.
“She played really good today, especially with her baseline strokes. In the first set we had a big competition and the match was really tough for me,” said Zheng.
“I just told myself to stay focused and don’t think any more about the first set. I am so happy right now to be in the semi-finals with such a good performance like this.”
Kalinskaya, who had never progressed beyond the second round of a major event until this year, came out on top in what was a rollercoaster tussle throughout the opening set with four out of the first six games played featuring a break of serve. With little to separate her from Zheng, she managed to pull away in a tiebreaker after battling back from a 1-3 deficit. Then a costly forehand error from the Chinese player granted Kalinskaya her first set point which she converted with a winning backhand return.
Despite suffering a blow, Zheng battled back in the second frame with the help of a mistake coming from across the court. Leading the set 4-3, a backhand shank from Kalinskaya granted the 12th seed a break point which she converted to move a game away from levelling the match. She closed the set out with an ace down the centre of the court.
The world No.15 continued her fightback in clinical form by claiming eight points in a row to open up a 3-1 lead in the decider. Meanwhile, the problems continued to mount for Kalinskaya who then took a medical timeout for treatment on the right side of her body. Although the exact issue was unclear.
Resuming play, Zheng cruised to the finish line. She triumphed on her first match point after a forehand from her rival crashed into the net. Sealing not only her place in the next round but also entry into the world’s top 10 for the first time next week.
“I want to say thanks to my team who helped me reach the semi-finals,” said Zheng who is coached by the former mentor of Coco Gauff, Pere Riba.
“I said last year at the Australian Open that I want to top 10 and one year later I’m here.”
On Friday Zheng will take on Dayana Yastremska who has become the first qualifier since 1978 to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne. It will be the first Tour-level meeting between the two.
