Russian tennis powerhouse Ekaterina Alexandrova delivered a decisive blow to China’s rising star Zheng Qinwen on Friday, clinching a 6-1, 6-4 victory in the Charleston Open quarterfinals. The match marked Zheng’s third consecutive loss to Alexandrova, who dominated early with a 5-0 lead in the first set. 🚀
Despite a valiant effort to hold serve and avoid a first-set shutout, Zheng struggled to find her rhythm against the ninth seed. Alexandrova’s precision backhands and aggressive play left little room for the Chinese Olympian to counter. 🏐
The second set saw flashes of resistance from Zheng, but critical unforced errors and a medical timeout for her right elbow hampered her momentum. Alexandrova sealed the win with a trademark down-the-line shot, advancing to face top-seeded American Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. 🇺🇸
Post-match stats revealed Zheng’s challenges: a 54% first-serve success rate and just 50% of points won on her second serve. Meanwhile, Alexandrova’s semifinal showdown headlines a star-studded weekend, with Amanda Anisimova and Sofia Kenin rounding out the all-American lineup. 🌟
