BEIJING — Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva will face home favorite Zheng Qinwen in the final of the China Open after both players won their respective semifinal matches Saturday.
Zheng defeated Elise Mertens 7-5, 6-2 and delighted the home supporters by becoming the first Chinese finalist in the tournament, which dates back to 2004.
The 24-year-old Zheng won eight of the last 10 games against Mertens to reach her second career WTA 1000 final.
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Earlier, Andreeva, the French Open champion, earned her 50th match win of the season by beating Nikola Bartunkova 6-2, 6-2.
No. 5-ranked Andreeva is set to move up two spots in next week’s rankings. Her 50 match wins puts her in a tie with Jessica Pegula for most on tour, according to the WTA.
The 19-year-old Andreeva had defeated Bartunkova, a 20-year-old Czech played ranked No. 34, in the third round of the U.S. Open in their only other meeting.
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