Zheng Qinwen avoided a potential catastrophe in the Tokyo quarterfinal after the top seed managed to recover from a mid-match collapse and get the job done against seventh-seeded Leylah Fernandez in three sets 6-0 1-6 6-3.
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Right out of the gate, the Chinese was all over the Canadian as she impressively converted all of her three break points and didn't face any break points en route to completing a bagel in the first set.
After absolutely annihilating the 2021 US Open runner-up in the first set, Zheng also started the second set by earning a break in the opening game. At that point, it definitely looked like world No. 35 Fernandez was in danger of losing without a single game won.
But then out of nowhere, the top seed's game completely shut down and the Canadian went on to force a decider after winning six consecutive games from a set and a break down.
Zheng managed to instantly get back on the right track and book a semifinal ticket in Tokyo
Fortunately for the Paris Olympics gold medalist, she was able to consolidate herself between two sets and start the decider by serving out her opening two games and also claiming a break in the second game to open a 3-0 lead. In the rest of the set, the world No. 7 faced a break point in the fifth game but saved it en route to sealing a win over Fernandez in an hour and 47 minutes of play.
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On Saturday, Zheng will battle against No. 6 seed Diana Shnaider for a place in the final of the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo. Today, the 16th-ranked Russian was slated to play against Sayaka Ishii but she received a walkover from the Japanese.
When Zheng and rising 20-year-old star Shnaider meet in Tokyo, it will be their first meeting.
