Qinwen Zheng looks set to clinch plenty of success in 2025, having enjoyed a fantastic season last time out.
Zheng hit the most WTA aces in 2024, with her superb serving helping her rise the rankings throughout the season.
Chinese star Zheng finished the season fifth in the rankings, her career best, with three titles going her way in 2024.
The 22-year-old also reached the final of the Australian Open, losing out to hard-court specialist Aryna Sabalenka.
But Zheng did manage to win a record-breaking Olympic gold medal in Paris, her nation’s first such medal in women’s tennis.
Andrea Petkovic makes Qinwen Zheng WTA rankings prediction
She defeated world number one and clay court specialist Iga Swiatek on her way to the podium in the French capital.
Now there will be grand plans for further success next year, with former WTA top 10 player Andrea Petkovic now sharing her predictions for Zheng on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
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“My prediction is that she will have a phenomenal year, 2025,” said Petkovic. “I don’t think she will be able to repeat the Australian Open because it’s the first time she has to defend a huge result and I think she will struggle with that.
“I think she is much better than most of the main draw, so she will definitely make the second week. But I don’t think she will get as far as last year and then she will have a phenomenal season.
“I think it’s just an experience you have to go through one time and I think she will and do well, the fourth round or the quarters, but I don’t think she will repeat [the win]. Then my prediction is that she will end the season in the top five.”
What is Qinwen Zheng’s Grand Slam record?
Zheng may not have won a Grand Slam title just yet, but she did manage to take her tour-level titles tally to five.
The Chinese star won in Tokyo and Palermo along with her Paris triumph, while she managed to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.
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Familiar foe Sabalenka, however, sent her crashing out of the New York tournament, with the Belarusian going on to lift the trophy.
Elsewhere, Zheng suffered third round and first round exits at the French Open and Wimbledon respectively.
| Australian Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open | |
| 2022 | 2nd | 4th | 3rd | 3rd |
| 2023 | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | QF |
| 2024 | RUP | 3rd | 1st | QF |
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