4 Losses in 5 Meetings: Zheng Qinwen Falls to Nemesis Again, Exits in Round of 32 — “My Ability Is There, I’ll Keep Enjoying Tennis”

On April 27, in the third round of the WTA Madrid Open, second seed Elena Rybakina staged a strong comeback to defeat 32nd seed Zheng Qinwen 4–6, 6–4, 6–3. After also beating Zheng from behind in Doha earlier this season, Rybakina extended her clay-court winning streak to six matches and advanced to the Round of 16.

Zheng started sharply, dictating rallies with aggressive baseline play and solid returns. She secured key breaks in the first set and early in the second, showcasing strong backhand exchanges and efficient point construction to take the opening set 6–4.

However, momentum shifted as Rybakina adjusted her serve, prioritizing consistency and lowering pace to improve first-serve accuracy. Zheng struggled under pressure, with fluctuations in her serve—winning just 38% of points on her second serve and committing nine double faults. Rybakina capitalized on these lapses to turn the match around.

Post-match, Zheng reflected: “I felt like I was battling my own focus throughout the match. I wanted to stay locked in, but doing it is another story. Still, I think I performed better than before. This match showed me areas I need to improve. Losing isn’t entirely a bad thing—I had many chances I didn’t take, which is unfortunate.”

She also highlighted positives: “I know my level is there. Coming back from a long injury layoff feels different, and the pressure is higher. I need to enjoy tennis more on court and play with greater freedom.”

On her physical condition, Zheng said: “I feel good. Compared to earlier tournaments, my body is in much better shape. There’s no major discomfort, which is encouraging and shows my fitness work is paying off. Now it’s about refining the details.”

Looking ahead to Roland Garros, she confirmed plans to compete in Rome: “I’ll take it match by match, finding my rhythm and regaining that relaxed, enjoyable feeling on court. My best tennis comes step by step, and I’m already better than before. Let’s see how it goes next.”