World No.15 Zheng Qinwen is through to her first Grand Slam final with a 6-4 6-4 victory over qualifier Dayana Yastremska at the Australian Open.
Playing her ninth consecutive match in Melbourne, Yastremska initially secured a 2-0 lead, yet Zheng swiftly turned the tide during her opponent’s serve, reaching a 40-0 advantage. Despite Yastremska’s valiant effort to secure a game point, she committed as many as four double faults, resulting in the loss of that critical game. Zheng then consolidated her position with a flawless love hold to even the score at 2-2.
As the match progressed, Zheng gained a pivotal break at 4-3, after which Yastremska took a medical timeout. Upon her return, Yastremska had a chance to level the score at 4-4, yet she couldn’t convert her break point, allowing Zheng to maintain her lead. This sequence of events ultimately culminated in Zheng clinching the first set.
At the start of the second set, Zheng managed to secure a break but promptly conceded it back to Yastremska, resulting in a leveled score of 2-2. Following this moment, the Chinese player demonstrated exceptional dominance, losing only one point per game in four out of the next six games.
In the upcoming Australian Open final, Zheng is set to face the defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who secured her spot in the title match after a thrilling victory over Coco Gauff.
