Zheng Qinwen Beats Bouzkova to Reach China Open Round of 16, Honors Chinese Cartoon
- Zheng Qinwen advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 China Open on Monday, October 5, 2026, defeating No.
- Zheng claimed an early break at the start of the match but failed to capitalize on five break opportunities across the third and fifth games.
- The deciding set featured steady serving through the opening 11 games without a single break point.
Zheng Qinwen advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 China Open on Monday, October 5, 2026, defeating No. 18 seed Marie Bouzkova 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-5 in a nearly three-hour match in Beijing. The home favorite fought through her third consecutive deciding-set win of the week, logging over eight hours on court across her opening rounds.
Zheng Qinwen Survives Marie Bouzkova in Three-Set Beijing Marathon
Zheng claimed an early break at the start of the match but failed to capitalize on five break opportunities across the third and fifth games. Bouzkova capitalized in the sixth game to level the score and eventually forced a first-set tiebreak. Zheng recovered control by claiming four consecutive points from 3-3 to secure the opening frame. Bouzkova responded in the second set by building a 3-0 lead off back-to-back breaks before serving out the frame in the 10th game.
The deciding set featured steady serving through the opening 11 games without a single break point. With Zheng leading 6-5, the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist earned her second match point of the game and converted it when Bouzkova sent a backhand wide. Zheng finished the contest with 11 aces, winning 81 percent of her first-serve points.
Animated Series Inspires On-Court Celebration Gesture
Following the final point, Zheng celebrated by letting out a loud roar and striking a superhero-like pose for the crowd. Spectators and media members initially speculated that the gesture referenced soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo or the Japanese series Sailor Moon. Speaking to reporters after the match, Zheng clarified that the pose was an ode to Shenbing Kids, an animated Chinese series that debuted in 2006.
I told my team it’s a very childish cartoon. That was a transformation gesture in the cartoon. My team members were making fun of me. After winning that point, I need to do something to my team …
Zheng Qinwen
Heavy Match Workload and Prior Head-to-Head History
The physical demands in Beijing align with a demanding stretch for the Chinese star. Dating back to the US Open, eight of Zheng’s past nine matches have extended to three sets, with Zheng winning seven of those encounters. Thirteen of her 21 tour victories this season have been decided in final sets, reflecting her familiarity with prolonged matches on home soil.
Having reached the quarterfinals at the US Open, she has now advanced to the round of 16 in Beijing for the second time, matching her run to the semifinals in 2024.
Alina Charaeva Awaits in the Fourth Round
Next up for Zheng is Alina Charaeva, who advanced to the fourth round of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time. Charaeva secured a notable upset over World No. 1 Elena Rybakina over the weekend and followed it with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Sonay Kartal on Monday. Zheng and Charaeva previously met in 2020 at an ITF event in Marbella, Spain, where Zheng overcame a set deficit to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 on clay when both players were 18 years old.