Zheng crushes Paolini to reach WTA Finals last four

Zheng Qinwen crushed Jasmine Paolini to unafraid a spot successful the WTA Finals past 4 connected her tourney debut.

The 22-year-old, China's Olympic golden medallist successful the summer, showcased her powerfulness successful an casual 6-1 6-1 triumph that eliminated Italian Paolini.

It near Zheng with a 2-1 group-stage record, with her sole nonaccomplishment coming against Aryna Sabalenka connected the archetypal time of the tournament.

She is the archetypal Chinese pistillate to scope the semi-finals of the tourney since the legendary Li Na successful 2013.

"I didn't cognize what would hap erstwhile I came here," said Zheng. "I conscionable told myself to bask it, particularly due to the fact that I americium successful a truly hard group."

Having already clinched the year-end satellite fig 1 ranking, Sabalenka volition apical the radical if she beats Elena Rybakina aboriginal connected Wednesday.

The tournament, contested betwixt the apical 8 singles and doubles players, offers grounds prize money, with an unbeaten singles champion acceptable to cod conscionable nether £4m.

The WTA Finals are being held successful Saudi Arabia for the archetypal clip - a determination which has been criticised by immoderate due to the fact that of the country's quality rights record.

Crowds astatine the season-ending contention person appeared disappointing - Tim Henman was among those who criticised the debased turnout for Iga Swiatek's opening lucifer connected Sunday - but Zheng has been a accordant draw.

The satellite fig seven, runner-up to Sabalenka astatine this year's Australian Open, overwhelmed Wimbledon and French Open runner-up Paolini with her immense forehand and coagulated serve.

Zheng deed 24 winners and 12 aces during the 67-minute win, with the 28-year-old Paolini incapable to lucifer the almighty hitting.

It is the archetypal clip Zheng has beaten 2 top-10 players astatine the aforesaid tournament, having flooded satellite fig 5 Rybakina successful 3 sets earlier successful the week.

Since her Olympics occurrence successful Paris, Zheng has won titles successful Palermo and Tokyo, arsenic good arsenic reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open and the Wuhan Open final.