China's rising star stuns Jabeur to reach US Open quarterfinals

Zheng Qinwen gestures toward to her team after defeating Ons Jabeur of Tunisia at the US Open in New York on Monday. China's world No 23 routed last year's runner-up 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time. USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS

A refocused and recalibrated Zheng Qinwen has bounced back from her early-season struggles to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in New York.

The No 23 seed looked back to her aggressive best on Monday as she upset Tunisia's fifth seed Ons Jabeur in straight sets at the US Open.

On Wednesday, she will face second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, who will next week become the WTA's new world No 1, for a place in the semifinals.

Hitting her shots with the same authority and precision that earned her the 2022 WTA Newcomer of the Year award, this was the "Queen Wen" that took the professional tour by storm last year.

"Yeah, I especially love this name 'Queen Wen'. Come on! It's Queen!" Zheng responded when asked if she approved of her new nickname after beating Jabeur 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 22 minutes at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The 20-year-old Zheng, who won her first career WTA title in Italy in July, took extra pride from not just outlasting last year's US Open runner-up on Monday but also dictating play with an aggressive style that deserted her during a string of first-round losses early this season.

"Honestly the feeling was fantastic, especially in that moment. I feel this is really an important win for me," said Zheng, who became the first Chinese woman to reach the quarterfinals since Wang Qiang in 2019.

"It's a breakthrough. Especially as I played good tennis today. It's not a win in the defensive way. I won the match today just by my own to really go ahead and take the match. I think that's what made the difference."

And it looks like Zheng doesn't intend to veer from those tactics against big-hitting Sabalenka of Belarus. "It will be a battle of breaking and keeping service games," she said. "I will try to continue taking control, rather than waiting for the opponent to make errors and allow me to win," she added.

Sabalenka, who dispatched No 13 seed Daria Kasatkina of Russia in straight sets on Monday, concurred with that analysis.

"She's really a good player, serving well, moving well and hitting the ball pretty heavy. I saw her match against Ons (Jabeur), she played unbelievable tennis. It's going to be a great battle. I am really looking forward to this match," said the reigning Australian Open champion.

Special talent

Leading a group of six Chinese women currently ranked inside the top 100, Zheng has been billed as the next big thing for Chinese tennis since her breakout season in 2022, when she won her debut matches at all four majors, made a run to the French Open last 16 and reached her first career tour final in Tokyo.

Her ascent, however, hit some bumps at the beginning of this year, highlighted by a four-match skid during the grass season that included a first-round exit at Wimbledon, when she at times looked hesitant and stressed on the court.

The split from her long-term mentor, Pere Riba of Spain, also took a toll on Zheng's focus, but she now appears more relaxed on court with Belgian Wim Fissette settled in as her new coach.

Zheng, who reached a career-high ranking of No 19 in May, attributed her resurgence to a more patient and calmer approach instilled by Fissette, who has worked with major champions such as Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka and Simona Halep.

"Honestly, at the beginning of year, I was thinking it's going to happen very fast. Because I was focusing on that moment too much about the result, and I lost a little bit of patience with myself, and that affects the tennis part," said Zheng, who won her first career title at a WTA 250 tourney at Palermo, Italy in July shortly after beginning to work with Fissette.

"Sometimes I'd just be thinking too far away about the future, what happens if I'm going to win, what happens if I'm going to lose," Zheng added.

"But you don't have to think like that, because in that moment you are not focused on the tennis ball, you are not focused on the present right now.

"I feel I'm more stable mentally, especially when I started to work with him (Fissette). I don't have too many ups and downs like what I had at the beginning of the year."

Now Zheng is chasing her dream of emulating her idol Li Na with renewed energy.

"When she won the French Open (in 2011), that gave a lot to young kids, especially for me," Zheng said of Chinese legend Li, Asia's first singles Grand Slam champion and a two-time major winner.

"In that moment I started to think, 'Oh, as an Asian, we're also able to win a Grand Slam on a big stage like that.'"

She will bid to join the retired Li as one of only three Chinese women to ever reach the US Open semis, and expects to produce her best on Wednesday.

"I always believe that I'm able to beat everyone if I play the right tennis that I have to play," she said.