Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen has made history after defeating Russia's Mirra Andreeva 7–5, 6–4 to win the China Open women's singles title in Beijing on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
The Olympic gold medallist became the first Chinese woman to win the tournament's WTA 1000 singles title, achieving the milestone in front of her home crowd.
The victory also marked Zheng's first WTA 1000 title and her first tournament win since Tokyo in 2024.
Her achievement is particularly significant after an elbow injury disrupted her career and kept her away from competition for extended periods. Returning to Beijing as a wildcard, Zheng fought her way through the draw before defeating Andreeva, one of the leading players on the women's tour.
After securing the title, Zheng celebrated by singing Light of Dreams, a song from the Chinese television series Shenbing Kids, giving the home crowd another memorable moment.
Before the final, Zheng had already made history by becoming the first Chinese player to reach the China Open final.
But reaching the final wasn't enough for her.
At the trophy ceremony, Zheng explained that she wanted to become the champion, not simply the player who made it to the final. She understood that making history meant completing the journey.
For Zheng, the victory was also a statement about her return after injury. She wasn't simply back on the court; she had won one of the biggest titles of her career.
Is making history about being the first to reach the door—or being the one who walks through it?
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