Zheng Outlasts Bouzkova in Third Straight Beijing Thriller

Zheng Qinwen is making a habit of the hard way — and it keeps working. The Chinese star survived her third straight three-setter at the China Open on Monday, defeating No. 18 seed Marie Bouzkova 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-5 in two hours and 54 minutes to reach the round of 16 in Beijing for the first time since 2024.

Zheng took a tense first-set tiebreak after failing to convert an early double-break chance, then lost her way as Bouzkova swept the second. With no break points seen in the first 11 games of the decider, Zheng struck at 6-5, converting her second match point when Bouzkova's backhand sailed wide — then let out a roar of relief.

She has now spent eight hours and one minute on court in Beijing, the most of any player, and 13 of her 21 tour-level wins this season have come in deciding sets. Next up is Alina Charaeva, the surprise package who stunned world No. 1 Elena Rybakina. "Everybody wants to take me down," Zheng said. "They really show up with their best tennis."