Qinwen Zheng bounced back from her opening WTA Finals loss to put herself back in contention for a semi-final spot.
Zheng lost to Aryna Sabalenka in her first WTA Finals match in Riyadh, with the world number one winning 6-3, 6-4.
But Chinese star Zheng bounced back against Elena Rybakina, with the former beating the latter 7-6(7-4), 3-6, 6-1.
It represented her first win over Rybakina in three attempts, with Zheng now aiming to beat Jasmine Paolini to secure a semi-final spot.
The fates of Sabalenka and Rybakina meanwhile have already been decided, with the former through to the semi-finals as group winner and the latter now out of contention.
Qinwen Zheng makes tennis history at the WTA Finals
Zheng prefers her own company on tour, and she will be using that solitude to focus on a very tricky test against Paolini.
She can, however, take great comfort from the fact she has just made tennis history, with Zheng becoming the first Chinese player in the Open Era to clinch 50 WTA-level match wins in a calendar year, as per OptaAce.
Jasmine Paolini and Qinwen Zheng have identical WTA Finals records
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a stunning season, one that involves a 50-17 win-loss record and includes an Olympic gold medal.
She has come on leaps and bounds in 2024, although Zheng will still have grand plans for success before it comes to an end.
READ MORE: WTA Finals 2024: How to watch, prize money, dates, prediction and everything you need to know
But just like she was against Rybakina, Zheng will be made to work very hard by Paolini, who is, of course, also eyeing a semi-final spot.
The Italian, who lost the French Open and Wimbledon finals this year, has an identical record to her next opponent this week.
Both players beat Rybakina and lost to Sabalenka, although Paolini differs in Riyadh because she is also taking part in the doubles event.
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