We Speak Sports

Wildcard Zheng Qinwen Completes Fairytale Comeback With China Open Title

Playing as a wild card on her comeback from elbow surgery, Zheng Qinwen beat top seed Mirra Andreeva to become the first Chinese player ever to win the China Open.

Published

6 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Zheng Qinwen hitting a backhand at the China Open

Zheng Qinwen gave Beijing a night it will never forget. The Olympic champion, playing as a wild card in the latest step of her comeback from elbow surgery, defeated top seed Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 on October 11 to win the China Open — becoming the first Chinese player to lift the trophy since the tournament began in 2004.

Andreeva, the world No. 5, served for the first set at 5-4, but Zheng saved three set points to hold for 5-5 and reeled off 11 straight points to take control of the match. She broke again at 4-4 in the second set, then served out the title with an ace on her first match point before falling to the court in tears. At the trophy ceremony, she treated the home crowd to a pop song — a touch of karaoke to finish a fairytale week.

A year ago Zheng was the world No. 4. A chronic problem in her dominant right elbow eventually required surgery, cost her nearly six months, and sent her ranking tumbling as low as No. 160. She arrived in Beijing ranked No. 54 and leaves back inside the top 30.

It is her first WTA 1000 title and her first trophy anywhere since Tokyo in October 2024, ending a two-year drought. The signs were there in August, when she fought through qualifying at the US Open and reached the quarterfinals with two comeback wins after trailing 5-0 in a final set, against Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek.

‘The feeling was incredible to win here in Beijing, in my home country, in front of all the fans here,’ Zheng said. ‘It’s one of my dreams.’

Despite the loss, Andreeva rises to a career-high No. 3 in the world.

Photo credit: AP

Up Next

At 20, Rafael Jodar Becomes the Youngest Shanghai Finalist in History

Don't Miss

Muchova Claims Final WTA Finals Spot as the Indian Wells Field Is Set

Royal Jones

We Speak Sports

Angel Reese’s Historic Night Powers Dream Past Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 Finals Lead

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

Published

3 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Angel Reese high-fives Jordin Canada during WNBA Finals Game 3

The Atlanta Dream turned their first home game of the WNBA Finals into a statement. Behind another commanding performance from Angel Reese, Atlanta blew out the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and setting a franchise record for points in a Finals game.

Watch the official Game 3 highlights:

Atlanta’s defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Dream held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, and the Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye’s hook shot with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 after one and 46-40 at halftime.

Golden State made its push early in the third quarter, tying the game at 49. Reese answered personally, fueling an 8-0 run and capping it with a coast-to-coast driving layup. After the Valkyries trimmed the margin to 59-55, the Dream closed the quarter by scoring 12 of the final 14 points to carry a 71-57 lead into the fourth, then outscored Golden State 26-14 the rest of the way. Atlanta has now outscored Golden State 63-35 in third quarters across the series.

Angel Reese celebrates with Rhyne Howard during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. (AP Photo)

Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. She is the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, the youngest player ever with three straight double-doubles in the Finals, and she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games. She also went 2-for-2 from three-point range; Atlanta is 14-0 this season when Reese makes a three.

“Time to take over. Do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said. “Everybody was just playing together. It’s fun when you win and you play with a great group. So it makes my job super easy.”

Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history with five steals in consecutive Finals games. Naz Hillmon scored 15, Isobel Borlase added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and eight assists. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent from the field, hit nine three-pointers and owned the paint, 44-20.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 14, and Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 apiece. But the Valkyries shot just 34.8 percent and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 22 points. “Sometimes, promises aren’t kept,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said.

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Atlanta, playing in its first Finals since 2013, is now two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.