Zheng defeats Stephens 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round of the Miami Open
Both have been in the top five and have suffered chronic injuries. Thirty-three-year-old American Sloane Stephens won 2017 US Unlocked and reached a career level of #3. Qinwen Zheng from China was a finalist in the 2024 Australian Open and achieved a career high ranking of #4.
Stephens suffered multiple leg injuries and, in 2022underwent surgery on his left leg. Although she currently ranks #717she received a wild card into the main draw.
Zheng, ten years Stephen’s junior, has struggled with her elbow and form since last summer. In mid-July, she announced that she had surgery on her right elbow and would be out of action for several months.
Although she returned to competition at the China Open last September, she was forced to withdraw during her third-round match due to elbow pain. Even though she missed him 2026 Australian Open, she competed at the Abu Dhabi Open (l. Rybakina) and last week at Indian Wells (l. Ruzic). It is currently ranked 26th and seeded 23st.
(Photo/Agencies)
While Zheng has won both competitive matches to date, they have not met since 2022. Stephens won the toss and elected to take, while Zheng elected to switch ends.
Zheng hit her first ace and held at love, while Stephens hit a winner across the board to level. Zheng opened the third with a double fault, but managed to hang on 15 ABOUT 2-1. of 2017 US The Open champion hit her first ace but served up two double faults, faced two games and a break point but held for 2-2.
While Zheng has an exemplary swing, she struggled on serve, losing five straight first serves, including another double fault to drop serve. Stephens was unable to build on the lead and returned the break after three unforced errors in a row.
Zheng opened the seventh with her third double fault but held it 30 with two additional aces. Stephens, serving with new balls, started to get going, drawing passing errors but giving away some of it, especially off the wing. She faced three deuce points, one break point, and, one net behind, dropped serve. Zheng opened the ninth with her fourth ace and, with another, reached triple set point and converted with an unreturnable serve.
Stephens served first in the second, found himself at 0-30 and fell on serve after two straight winners from Zheng. of 23the third seed lost 3/5 serves first but consolidates the break with a monster serve to the tee.
Stephens slowly began to unravel and broke serve after five more faults, including her third double fault. Zheng did 4/6 first serves and is held for him 30 to consolidate the break for 4-0. Stephens, struggling to hold, served another double fault and faced four deuces and a break point, but held when Zheng overcooked the return.
Zheng opened the sixth with three straight winners, including two aces, and held at love 5-1. Stephens, serving to stay in the match, did 5/5 first it is easy to serve and maintain 15forcing her opponent to serve her out. of 2024 The Aussie Open finalist did just that; serving with new balls, she secured victory with a colossal wide serve.
While the match was surprisingly close, Zheng outclassed her opponent in every metric. She won 84First % and 65% of second serve points and converted 4/6 break points. She was just as capable when she returned, winning 36First % and a shocking one 74% of second serve return points.
In her next match, she will face another American, Madison Keys. of 2025 Australian Open champion and former world #5 currently ranked 18th and seeded 15th. This will be their second meeting at tournament level. They last played in 2023 in Citi DC Open, which Keys took in straight sets.
