Zheng Qinwen returns a shot during the women's singles round of 16 match against Bianca Andreescu at the WTA Italian Open in Rome, Italy, on May 12, 2025. Photo: VCG

China's tennis ace Zheng Qinwen defeated former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu 7-5, 6-1, reaching the tournament's quarterfinals for the third consecutive year of the WTA Italian Open in Rome on Monday. She will next face world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, which will mark their first meeting on clay.

"At present, Zheng appears to be in good physical condition. The intensity of her training and competitive form are both solid, and there are no obvious signs that past injuries are affecting her performance," former Chinese Tennis Association coach Pan Shouhu told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Pan noted that Zheng has strong on-court adaptability, explaining that even if she starts slowly or falls behind early, she can adjust her game plan based on how the match unfolds.

That ability to stay composed and make timely adjustments was on full display in her match against Andreescu. Zheng built an early 3-0 lead in the first set, but that was broken in the seventh game as Andreescu mounted a comeback, holding and breaking serve to take a 5-4 advantage. Zheng regained her rhythm and broke back in the critical 10th game, winning three straight games to seal the set 7-5.

"After taking a 3-0 lead, I may have relaxed a bit," Zheng reflected in a post-match interview on Monday. "My focus wasn't as sharp, and I became slightly less aggressive, which allowed the match to shift to my opponent's rhythm."

"Even when I made a lot of unforced errors, I didn't panic. I kept my mindset steady and fought back point by point," she said.

In the second set, Zheng  dominated the court and even pulled off a stunning tweener shot, eventually closing out the match with a commanding 6-1 victory.

"Every time I hit a great shot or score, like the tweener today, I get excited. It helps me get into a better rhythm," Zheng said. 

"I always want to give my all in every match, and I'm happy I was able to do that today. I hope to continue this positive momentum in the upcoming matches."

In the quarterfinals, Zheng will face top seed Aryna Sabalenka. This will be their first meeting on clay. Zheng has yet to defeat Sabalenka in their six previous encounters.

"Based on records, Sabalenka has been a formidable obstacle for Zheng, like a mountain that's hard to climb," Pan noted. 

"But if she can overcome this obstacle this time, it would be a major boost to her confidence."

"Sabalenka is a pure offensive player. You must absorb a few of her powerful shots during her attacks," Zheng said. 

"She'll give you some opportunities, because aggressive play naturally comes with errors. I plan to stay consistent and look for my chances to strike."

According to Shangguan News, Zheng Qinwen is particularly adept at playing on clay courts, where she has achieved remarkable success. In 2022, she advanced to the second week of a Grand Slam, and in 2024, she clinched the Olympic gold medal in women's singles. Both of these career highlights came on clay. Zheng has often stated that she finds it easier to get into rhythm and find her game on clay courts.

Zhe Kunlin, China representative of leading tennis clay court supplier Tianjiao Sports, told the Global Times on Tuesday that clay surfaces place greater demand on a player's ability to instantly react and significantly influence the pace and tactical choices of a match.

"Compared to hard courts, clay has a lower coefficient of friction, making sliding a key technical skill - something that happens to be one of Zheng's strengths," Zhe said.

Zhe further explained that clay courts also offer notable advantages in terms of injury prevention. "Hard courts are more taxing on the body, and extended play can lead to knee and joint issues," he said.

"Clay is relatively softer and helps absorb impact. It provides an ideal platform for players with good balance and coordination to showcase their strengths," he said.

While clay courts can offer physical advantages for agile athletes, Zhe noted that Chinese players in general have had relatively fewer opportunities to compete extensively on the surface.

"This is mainly because most domestic tournaments in China are played on hard courts, so players have fewer opportunities to adapt to clay. But Zheng Qinwen, who won gold on clay at the Olympics, has already demonstrated strong adaptability and great potential on this surface," he noted.

Zhe said that the upcoming clash with Sabalenka may be subtly influenced by the court surface, noting that Zheng's movement and quick reactions on clay make her performance on this surface something to look forward to.