(Tennis news) Zheng Qinwen, who advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open, defeated two top seeds to win the Asian Games women’s tennis gold on Friday and enhance her rapidly improving reputation.

The 20-year-old, China’s most promising tennis prospect, persevered in the sweltering Hangzhou heat to defeat colleague Zhu Lin and win the match 6-2, 6-4 in 1 hour and 44 minutes.

Zheng, who defeated world number seven Ons Jabeur to advance to the last eight at Flushing Meadows this month before losing to top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, has had a breakout year. She rose to a career-high ranking of 19 in May, and two months later she won her first WTA title.

Zheng’s power and accuracy versus Zhu in the final were crucial, and she is now being mentored by Naomi Osaka’s former coach Wim Fissette, who also has experience working with Victoria Azarenka and Simona Halep.

In the first set, the 23rd-ranked player in the world broke twice and dominated with her serve. Ten places down in the rankings Zhu battled valiantly to stay in the match, recovering from a break down in the second set to tie the score at 3-3.

However, Zheng persevered to break once more, this time for 5-4, with a devastating cross-court forehand. She then maintained composure to serve out the victory. Men’s doubles gold was won by Taiwan’s Hsu Yu-hsiou and Jason Jung, who defeated India’s Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-4, 6-4.

The top seed from China, Zhang Zhizhen, who advanced to the third round at both the US Open and the French Open this year, will compete against the second seed from Japan, Yosuke Watanuki, in the men’s singles final on Saturday.
Also read: Indian shooters sizzle, record best-ever medals haul at Asian Games