Zheng Qinwen is finally catching some form and momentum as the No. 8 seed overcame Lulu Sun 6-4 7-5 to progress into the Indian Wells round-of-16 but also clinch her first back-to-back wins of 2025.
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Midway through the first set, the Chinese earned the first break of the match but also quickly blew it. However, she remained unfazed and registered another break in the seventh game before closing out the set three games later.
In the second set, something similar happened, only this time Zheng three times blew a break, including failing to serve out for the match at 5-4. But as was the case in the first set, the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist didn't panic and broke Sun again in the 11th game and sealed the deal on her serve in the following game.
For a place in the Indian Wells quarterfinal, the eighth-seeded Chinese will play against No. 18 seed Marta Kostyuk.
Zheng makes amends for the Wimbledon loss to Sun
Last summer, the 2024 Australian Open runner-up saw her Wimbledon campaign come to an end after only one round following a shock three-set defeat to Sun.
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After beating the New Zealander in their second meeting in Indian Wells, the world No. 9 was asked about it. And she admitted that she remembered the loss pretty clearly and that she wanted to get her revenge.
If I have to be honest, no I dont forgive," Zheng remarked.
Against her next rival Kostyuk, the 22-year-old has had two meetings and the head-to-head between them stands at 1-1.
