Iga Swiatek beat Zheng Qinwen 6-3 6-2 in 83 minutes to reach the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Swiatek has extended her winning streak in the Middle East to seven consecutive wins.
Swiatek beat Zheng for the sixth consecutive time in their all-time head-to-head clashes and for the second time this year. The Polish player has won four of her matches against Zheng on hard court.
Swiatek saved all three break points she faced in the match and broke Zheng’s serve three times. The world number 1 hit 17 winners to 10 unforced errors. Zheng hit 19 winners to 18 unforced errors, but landed just 48% of her first serves.
Swiakek broke serve in the second game and saved a break-back point the third game to race out to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. The Pole held on her next service games and served out on her first set point in the ninth game.
Swiatek saved a break point in the fourth game of the second set before winning the final four games with two breaks in the fifth and seventh games to win the second set 6-2.
“Zheng has great power, great topspin. You have to be ready for that. She wants to really be proactive, so you have to keep up with the intensity. I have been doing that during our matches”, said Swiatek.
