China’s Zheng gets the Arab “home” support

Zheng Qinwen received the lion’s share of “home” support from Saudi fans on Monday as the Olympic gold medalist pulled her group record to 1-1 with a 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-1 defeat of Elena Rybakina at the WTA Finals.

Rybakina, a former Wimbledon winner, now stands 0-2 as her new coaching arrangement with Goran Ivanisevic gets off to a shaky start. 

The Kazakh, injured and out of touch for much of the summer and autumn, has played just four matches since WImbledon.

Zheng, who’s new-found fanbase waved Chinese flags and managed some chants, has been on a recent tear, winning not only Paris Games gold but also claiming Tour titles in Palermo and Tokyo,

The world No. 7 earned her first victory over Kazakh Rybakina in front of a small Riyadh crowd after three losses in the series.

Rybakina’s chances of reaching the knockout stage with an 0-2 record look grim while her opponent is in with a chance depending on the result from the Aryna Sabalenka v Jasmine Paolini match.

Zheng needed an hour to lift the opening set in a tiebreaker but lost serve twice to drop the second.

The Chinese player broke Rybakina twice in the final set, taking victory on her first match point after two and a half hours.

Main photo:-Zheng Quinwen on her way to victory in Riyadh – by WTATennis.com