Laura Robson assesses whether Qinwen Zheng can become the World number one during her career.
The 22-year-old ended an impressive 2024 season by just falling short against Coco Gauff in a pulsating WTA Finals championship match in Riyadh.
The American claimed a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) win in a entertaining three-hour battle between the two youngest players to compete at this year’s season-ending championships.
Had Zheng claimed victory she would have become the first player since to win the WTA Finals on debut since Ash Barty in 2019.
Does Laura Robson think Qinwen Zheng can become the World number one?
Over the past two years Qinwen Zheng has been developing into a player that can consistently challenge the world’s top players and win big titles. She reached that level in 2024, where she claimed three titles and reached her first Grand Slam final.
Furthermore, Zheng claimed arguably the biggest title of her career at the Paris Olympics, where she won the gold medal.
But after ending her season with 31 wins from 36 matches since Wimbledon, Robson commented on the possibility of Zheng becoming the WTA Tour’s top-ranked player.
“It’s a tough challenge given who else is in that mix,” the Brit said. “But to be honest I think it would be hard on a really fast surface, and I don’t see her having overwhelmingly great results on let’s say a grass court.
“Clay and hard courts? For sure. Purely because of the technique she has. She’s grown up on a clay court and plays further back behind the baseline than a lot of other Chinese players.”
Qinwen Zheng produces fantastic end to the 2024 season
Since being on the receiving end of a thumping by Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open quarter-finals, Zheng has produced some of the best tennis of her career.
She competed on the Asian swing in front of her home fans in China and began by reaching the semi-finals in Beijing.
In Wuhan, she made it to the final, and took a set off Sabalenka for the first time, but Zheng still succumbed to defeat as the Belarusian continued her unbeaten run in Wuhan.
Zheng finally claimed victory by taking the Tokyo Open title for the loss of just one set. She carried this form into the WTA Finals, where she recovered from losing to Sabalenka to secure wins over Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini and Barbora Krejčíková to reach the final.
Despite losing to Gauff, Zheng will rise to career-high ranking of number five on Monday, capping off a very successful season.
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