Zheng conquers Vekic 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 to reach US Open quarterfinal

From the Olympic gold medal match to the round of 16 at the season’s final slam, Qinwen Zheng and Donna Vekic seize the moment and embrace the pressure. Zheng just twenty-one, reached the final at the Australian Open to start the season and took home the gold for China at the Paris Olympics. Seeded and ranked seventh, she led the head-to-head 2-1.

Vekic from Croatia is ranked #23 and seeded 24th. The twenty-eight-year-old had a stellar spring season reaching the finals in Bad Homburg (l. Shnaider) the semis at Wimbledon (l. Paolini) and won silver at the Olympics.

During this fortnight, Zheng dropped a set in each round while Vekic won three rounds in straights. Vekic was seeking her second quarterfinal at the Open having reached that round in 2019 (l. Bencic) while Zheng was seeking her second consecutive quarterfinal having lost to eventual finalist, Aryna Sabalenka.

Zheng served first and opened with a fantastic forehand down the line. Though she donated a double fault, she struck three consecutive aces to hold! Vekic missed 4/6 first serves but held to 30 to level.

(PHOTO / AP)

Zheng opened with three consecutive winners including her fourth ace and despite another double fault, held for 2-1 with a terrific inside-out forehand. Vekic playing with purpose and poise, hit three consecutive winners, and held at love to level.

Zheng made 4/6 first serves including her fifth ace on game point while Vekic faced three deuce and two break points yet held with three outstanding winners including her first ace.

The Aussie Open finalist missed 4/6 first serves yet held to 30 while Vekic serving with new balls made 4/5 first serves including an ace to level at four. Zheng opened the ninth with a mishit forehand but held for 5-4 with two winners including her sixth ace.

Vekic serving to stay in the set made 3/6 first serves and held for 5-5 with a spectacular forehand down the middle. Zheng opened the eleventh with her third double fault but held to 30 with her seventh ace while Vekic made 4/4 first serves including her third ace and held to love to force the breaker.

Zheng raced to a 5-2 lead when Vekic double-faulted for the first time and clinched it 7-2 to secure the opening set. Vekic served first in the second. In this highly entertaining and competitive match, she opened with a stunning inside-out forehand and held to 15.

Zheng opened with an incredible inside-in forehand winner but struggled thereafter facing four deuce and two break points and dropped serve with a mishit forehand.

Vekic opened the third with a blistering forehand down the line but gave back the break with two additional double faults and two groundstroke errors. Zheng serving with new balls struck a 105mph serve up the tee to consolidate the break for 2-2.

Vekic opened the fifth with her fourth ace and though she gifted another double fault, held to 30 with her fifth ace and a remarkable inside-out forehand. The world #7 opened with two consecutive double faults and faced double break point yet held with a forehand winner and 107mph serve up the tee.

The exceptional shot-making and focus were rivaled by their incredible foot speed and court coverage. Vekic donated her sixth double fault yet held easily to 15 for 4-3 while Zheng made 3/4 first serves including her eight ace and held at love.

Vekic appeared lethargic as she opened the ninth with her seventh double fault but with two consecutive monster serves including her fifth ace, held to 15 for 5-4.

Zheng serving to stay in the set faltered as the unforced errors continued to mount. Despite her ninth ace and spectacular overhead smash short in the box, she faced three set points and conceded it when Vekic pummeled a forehand down the line.

The players left the court following the conclusion of the second set and though few fans remained in Arthur Ashe Stadium at 1:30 am, those that did were fully engaged and ready to go the distance.

Vekic served first in the decider and opened with an ace out wide but dumped serve following two consecutive forehand errors. Zheng smelled blood and with two outstanding groundstroke winners, consolidated the break for 2-0.

Vekic serving with new balls missed 5/6 first serves yet held to 30 to get on the board. Zheng opened the fourth with an extraordinary crosscourt forehand on the 13th shot, held to 30 for 3-1.

Vekic intermittently utilized the moonball to gain time and though she donated her seventh double fault and faced two deuce and break point, held for 2-3 with a marvelous forehand down the line and two additional aces.

Zheng missed 3/6 first serves including her sixth double fault but managed to hold to 30 to maintain the lead. Vekic missed 4/4 first serves including her eighth double fault and dumped serve following three break points.

Zheng served for a coveted spot in the quarters and though she opened with an overcooked backhand, hit her tenth ace and secured victory when Vekic gifted two consecutive unforced errors.

It was a riveting encounter that showcased the best in women’s tennis. After close to three hours, just seven points separated the combatants. Vekic finished with nine aces, and 8 double faults and won 72% of first and 49% of second serve points. She was more effective than Zheng on second serve return points winning 59% to 51% respectively but struggled on break points winning just 2/7.

Zheng was clutch on serve winning a staggering 81% of first and 41% of second serve points and was solid on break points saving 5/7 while converting 3/8. She hit 10 aces to 6 double faults and struck 33 winners to 21 unforced errors.

Aryna Sabalenka the #2 seed awaits in the quarters. The two-time Australian Open champion leads the head-to-head 2-0 including the final down under this past January and in the quarters last year at Flushing Meadows. With the semifinals on the line, this promises to be an epic battle between worthy opponents.