Qinwen Zheng is preparing to face an opponent for the first time in the Tokyo Open final.
The World number seven will compete for a third title in 2024 when she takes on Sofia Kenin in Sunday’s championship match.
After reaching the US Open quarter-finals for the seventh successive year, the 22-year old has thrived in the Asian swing.
After reaching the Beijing semi-finals and finishing as a runner-up at Wuhan Open, Zheng hopes to go one better in the Japanese capital, but she will have to be at her best.
What did Qinwen Zheng say about Sofia Kenin’s game?
Qinwen Zheng faced 20-year-old Diana Diana Shnaider in the Tokyo Open semi-finals and the Russian gave her a tough test.
But ultimately Zheng won the most important points and after securing the opening set on a tiebreak, she cruised to a 7-6, 6-3 win and progressed to her second successive Tokyo final.
The Olympic champion will now face Sofia Kenin, who is into her first WTA Tour Final since the 2023 San Diego Open.
After Saturday’s match Zheng took time to praise two aspects of Kenin’s game, which she will be wary of in the final.
“I think she is a really good player and she has good groundstrokes a great drop shot,” Zheng said during her on-court interview.
“Of course, if she’s in the final, it means she’s really tough to beat in this tournament.t but I’m just going to try my best tomorrow and let’s see what happens.”
Are there concerns around Sofia Kenin’s fitness ahead of the Tokyo Open final?
Kenin played two matches on Saturday at the Tokyo Open.
The 25-year-old began the day by defeating Britain’s Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-4, to reach the final in singles.
She then played the women’s doubles semi-final alongside veteran Bethanie Mattek-Sands and while trailing 2-5 against Laura Siegemund and Ena Shibahara, disaster struck.
Kenin was in tears after sustaining an injury and was unable to continue, as she and Mattek-Sands retired from the match.
With the singles final just 24 hours away, it remains to be seen if the 2020 Australian Open champion will be fit to play.
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