Mertens stuns Swiatek in Beijing, sets up China Open semi-final with Zheng

Elise Mertens secured a stunning victory over former champion Iga Swiatek in the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, winning 7-6(0) 6-3. This remarkable win marks Mertens' first semi-final appearance at a WTA 1000 event, her first since 2021, and her third consecutive victory over Grand Slam champions.

The 30-year-old Belgian, currently ranked 19th in the world, showcased her skill and precision by dominating the opening-set tiebreak without committing any errors, and maintaining that momentum into the second set. Mertens will face home favorite Zheng Qinwen in the semi-finals, who defeated sixth seed Elina Svitolina 6-3 7-6(6) earlier in the day.

Playing as a wildcard entrant, Zheng took an early lead by breaking Svitolina three times in the first set. The Ukrainian world number seven fought back strongly in the second set, but was unable to overcome Zheng's aggressive play and relentless pace, ultimately falling in a match that lasted one hour and 47 minutes. Svitolina displayed commendable resilience throughout the match, but Zheng's superior attacking game and ability to seize the initiative in crucial moments proved too much to handle.