As an unseeded player at the WTA 1000 Rome tournament, Zheng Qinwen is set to take the court on the very first day of the main draw. Her opening-round opponent is Hungary’s Bondár, ranked 56th in the world. The two have met twice before, with Zheng winning both encounters.
Should she advance to the second round, Zheng will face 30th seed Bucșa. Her potential third-round opponent is 6th seed Anisimova. If Zheng continues her winning streak in Rome, she could encounter Sabalenka in the quarterfinals—a player she defeated in last year’s quarterfinal clash.
For now, however, Zheng’s priority is rebuilding her form through solid performances. After an early exit in Madrid, she traveled to Rome for preparation. As a semifinalist in last year’s edition, failing to defend her points would see her ranking slip further.
Since arriving in Rome, Zheng has focused on all aspects of her training and practiced with several top players, including Ostapenko and Sabalenka. She noted that training with Sabalenka brought fresh insights.
“Practicing with these elite players is incredibly helpful for me. Honestly, during today’s session with Sabalenka, I discovered a lot of new things. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming matches,” Zheng said.
When asked whether she would consider playing in a 250-level tournament to regain match rhythm, Zheng made it clear that she prefers bigger challenges.
“I’m just coming back from injury, so I haven’t had many opportunities to play lower-tier events. After Doha, I withdrew from Dubai and went straight to Indian Wells. That was more about health considerations,” she explained.
Zheng admitted that winning a 250-level title doesn’t motivate her much. She’s more driven to compete in high-level events and test herself against the world’s best.
Born in 2002, Zheng has won four WTA titles in her career: two at the 250 level and two at the 500 level. Her best result at a 1000-level event is the runner-up finish at the 2024 Wuhan Open. She also reached the finals of the 2024 WTA Finals and the 2024 Australian Open.
Looking at her recent tournament schedule, Zheng has rarely participated in 250-level events. Her calendar has been dominated by high-profile tournaments. Since returning from injury this season, she has only played in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid.
So, how far do you think Zheng Qinwen can go in Rome this year?
