Zheng Qinwen's quest to rediscover her game and rhythm continues at the Miami Open as she delivered a strong performance to oust 90th-ranked Taylor Townsend 6-1 7-6 (3) and safely reach the round-of-16.
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Throughout the entire match, the Chinese tennis star was rock-solid on her serve, winning an impressive 88 percent of her first serve points and not allowing a single break point to her rival. Also, the 2024 Australian Open runner-up converted two of her three break point chances.
The start of the match was dominated by Zheng, who won the opening five games before serving out for the first set in the seventh game. In the second set, Townsend raised her level - both players firmly held on to their serves - but when the time came for a tie-break, the No. 9 seed upped her intensity and went 5-0 up before realizing her third match point.
Zheng plays next against Ashlyn Krueger, the player she beat en route to making her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open last year.
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Zheng is now 5-1 since coach Pere Riba returned to her team
After being without Riba in early 2025 and struggling heavily and only going 1-3 during that period, the 22-year-old has won five of her last six matches since the Spanish coach rejoined her team in Indian Wells.
I think the thing I missed the most is that he always pushes me hard on court. He doesnt allow me to get relaxed. Thats why I can keep going forward. When he wasnt there for those three months, I had trouble with my body... I wasnt able to practice 100%. Now it seems like Im going in a good direction," the Chinese explained earlier this week.
Zheng is more and more looking like the player she was in 2024 and she is the favorite to beat Krueger in the Miami round-of-16 and make her first quarterfinal at the tournament.
