Qinwen Zheng stormed into the third round of the China Open after beating Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-1 in Beijing.
Zheng impressed her home fans with the victory, with the world number seven setting up a clash with Nadia Podoroska.
The former is now just one of two remaining Chinese players in the China Open, with Shuai Zhang still in the competition.
Zhang shocked Emma Navarro in the second round, with the world number 595 beating the world number eight 6-4, 6-2.
Zheng, ranked one spot ahead of Navarro, has plenty of pressure on her shoulders, having just fallen in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Qinwen Zheng breaks personal record at the China Open
A Zheng rematch with Aryna Sabalenka is on the cards at the China Open, with the latter having knocked the former out of the Grand Slam.
The Belarusian, who went on to lift the trophy in New York, also beat the Chinese star in the final of the Australian Open earlier this year.
But Zheng can be confident given her latest feat, having just claimed a 36th WTA-level match win in 2024, which surpasses her 2023 mark of 35 for a career-high in a calendar year, as per OptaAce.
Can Qinwen Zheng win the China Open on home soil?
Zheng’s superb season so far also includes an Olympic gold medal, having overcome Donna Vekic, 6-2, 6-3 in the final clash in Paris.
She also knocked out world number one Iga Swiatek on the way to making history, having clinched China’s first tennis singles gold medal.
Home success will now be her main focus, but it won’t be easy given the level of competition currently at play in Beijing.
Top seed and Zheng’s new nemesis Sabalenka remains in the tournament, with the top seed joined by seeds two and three Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini respectively.
Fifth seed Zheng will, however, be given a massive boost in her pursuit of success by the China Open supporters.
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