Zheng Qinwen, the 12th seed from China, overcame Anna Kalinskaya and is two wins away from repeating Li Na’s amazing journey to the Australian Open championship.
Qinwen lost early in this year’s Rod Laver Arena women’s semifinal match but won 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-1 in two hours and twenty minutes.
After seven straight wins on Wednesday, Zheng stated, “In the first set, we have a big competition.” Longest winning streak of her career.
“I had never reached a grand slam semifinal. I’m pleased to reach the semi-finals following this performance.
Whatever happens, the 21-year-old from Shiyan will finish in the top 10 of the competition.
“This is wonderful news,” Zheng added.
“I wanted to finish in the top 10 at the Australian Open last year. Now here I am, a year later.
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Qinwen will face Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska, who reached the women’s open final four for the first time since 1978. She’ll be Zheng’s unexpected title opponent on Saturday.
The fight will follow Thursday’s first semi-final between heavyweights Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, so she won’t have much time to relax.
No seed has met the fifteenth-ranked player in the women’s draw.
Qinwen and Kalinskaya last competed in the 2022 Guadalajara Open in Mexico, when Zheng was 20. Two WTA titles followed for the Chinese player.
The Russian had lost all four of his Melbourne main-draw matches in the first round until this year.
Zheng and Kalinskaya faced two breakpoints on their serves in the opening six games as they sought an unexpected berth in the last four.
Despite her poor second serve, Kalinskaya won the opening set in 57 minutes in the tiebreak after Zheng made many mistakes.
Zheng unexpectedly attacked at 4-3 and ended the second set with a thunderous smash near the net.
The two-time WTA winner took an early break and led 3-1 in the final against Kalinskaya.
When Kalinskaya, behind a double break, asked for the physio, Zheng showed his speed and agility, but a Lazarus-like recovery was impossible.
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