Zheng Qinwen, known as China’s “golden flower,” is set to begin her campaign at the WTA 1000 Rome Open with a crucial first-round match against Hungary’s No. 58-ranked Anna Bondar on the evening of May 5, Beijing time. This marks the start of what could be her most challenging “point defense” journey of the season.
Last year, Zheng made a significant breakthrough in Rome, not only defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for the first time in the quarterfinals but also reaching the semifinals of a clay-court 1000 event for the first time in her career. This means that this year, she must strive to retain the 390 ranking points earned from that run, aiming to improve her world ranking and lay a solid foundation for her comeback after injury.
Due to her world ranking still being No. 36 at the time of the Rome draw, Zheng lost the first-round bye and must compete from the very first round. The draw presents a challenging path for the “rocket girl.” In the first round, she faces Bondar, whom she has beaten in both previous encounters, including one at the 2023 Rome Open. However, Bondar has shown strong clay-court form this year, even upsetting world No. 7 Marketa Vondrousova at the Madrid Open.
In the second round, Zheng could meet Spain’s 30th seed Paula Badosa, who has enjoyed a career breakthrough this year by winning her first WTA singles title at the Merida Open. Yet Badosa has struggled on clay so far this season, failing to secure a win.
If Zheng advances to the third round, the challenge intensifies. She could face U.S. star and world No. 6 Jessica Pegula, though Pegula has been sidelined with a wrist injury and has yet to appear in this year’s clay season. Pegula would likely need to defeat former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko first. For Zheng, facing a top-10 opponent would require overcoming a psychological hurdle—since her return from injury, she has yet to beat a player ranked in the top 10, having lost twice to Iga Swiatek and once to Aryna Sabalenka.
Should Zheng manage to surpass Pegula, she might then face No. 12 seed or No. 22 seed, potentially replicating her impressive quarterfinal run from last year. To retain her semifinal points, she must continue to climb these “mountains.”
The Rome clay court suits Zheng’s game perfectly, with slower ball speed and higher bounce, making it a more traditional clay surface. She has reached at least the quarterfinals in Rome for three consecutive years, proving her comfort on this surface. However, Zheng is still in the recovery phase after injury, both physically and mentally. During the Madrid Open, she revealed a change in her fitness coach and admitted to being more conservative in assessing her physical condition after the injury. Compared to facing powerful opponents, this internal pressure may require more energy to manage, as the road back from long-term injury is often difficult.
Zheng’s performances on hard and clay courts since her return have shown both highlights and challenges. The Rome Open, a personal “lucky ground,” is not only a “point defense exam” but also an opportunity to rebuild confidence for the upcoming clay-court season and the French Open.
