Zheng Qinwen double-faulted on the opening point but recovered from a 0-2 deficit before falling onto her back in celebration after converting her second match point. (EPA Images pic)BEIJING: Homegrown hero Zheng Qinwen pulled out some of her best tennis to beat Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) at the China Open on Friday and storm into the semi-finals.
Zheng, a wildcard entry in Beijing, finally notched her first straight-sets win of this year's tournament having needed more than 10 hours on court to get to the quarter-final.
The world number 54 sent the crowd roaring as she punched winners down the line, though the seventh-ranked Svitolina came back fighting to force a second set tie-break.
