Zheng Qinwen back in contention at WTA Finals, hands Elena Rybakina second loss in Riyadh

Zheng Qinwen got on the board at the 2024 WTA Finals on Monday, handing Elena Rybakina her second loss of the week, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-1.

"I'm really happy to win this match because I'd never beat her before and she's one of the greatest players right now on tour," Zheng said on court after the match, later apologizing to fans in the crowd for showing her frustration. "She has a huge serve and great groundstrokes, so I'm just happy I was able to keep on my best."

The Olympic champion lost her opening match to top seed Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday but the No. 7 seed now stands at 1-1 in the Purple Group after winning in two hours and 24 minutes over the fifth-seeded Rybakina on Riyadh’s Center Court.

As a result of Sabalenka defeating No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini, she will advance as winner of the Purple Group, Rybakina is officially eliminated from semifinal contention, and Zheng will play Paolini for the second semifinal spot.

"Even though I had a chance in the second set and didn't take it, I'm happy I came back in the third set and stayed focus."

Both Zheng and Rybakina began the afternoon in the hunt for their first win of the tournament, Zheng falling to Sabalenka while Rybakina lost two close sets to Paolini in what was her first on-court appearance since withdrawing from the US Open’s second round due to a lower back injury. Rybakina made headlines before the event began when she announced a new coaching partnership with fellow former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, set to begin during the off-season, but lost key points to Paolini to find herself on the back foot within the Purple Group.

Facing Zheng for the third time, Rybakina had won both of their previous meetings—including at the Championships in 2022, where Rybakina went on to win her first major title—but was up against a vastly improved opponent since they last played in 2023.

The world No. 7 is at a career-high ranking after a breakout season began with a run to her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open and culminated with a gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games, where she stunned top-ranked Iga Swiatek en route to the top of the podium in Paris.

Zheng backed up the breakthrough with a successful homecoming through the Asian Swing, where she reached the semifinals in Beijing, the finals at her home tournament in Wuhan, and won her third title of the season in Tokyo.

Riyadh’s quick indoor conditions looked to favor both players, but most critically Zheng’s first serve, which can be more erratic outdoors. Serving at 53% through the opening set, Zheng shook off losing a 4-1 lead to ultimately outlast Rybakina in a tiebreaker, scoring a mini-break advantage that proved decisive and helped her convert her second set point.

Zheng appeared on course for a decisive victory when she took an early break in the second set, but Rybakina turned the tables on the 22-year-old, reeling off four straight games to force a final set behind an emphatic hold to love.

The final set began with a tense opening game, one Zheng clinched with an ace to stop the run of games against her. Three games later, she was back in the lead, striking a fierce backhand return winner to break Rybakina and hold for a 4-1 edge.

With momentum slipping away, Rybakina saved three break points in hopes of staving off a double-break deficit but Zheng earned a fourth with a forehand pass, converting with another forehand winner.

A clean backhand winner got Zheng to match point after squandering a 30-0 lead, and one last big serve got her over the finish line and earned her a maiden win at a WTA Finals. In the end, both women struck 40 unforced errors but Zheng managed more winners, 25 to 19.

Her final match of round-robin play will come against Jasmine Paolini, who she defeated in three sets last month at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, while Rybakina will play top seed Sabalenka.