BEIJING - Zheng Qinwen got her 2026 China Open campaign off to a winning start as the home favorite beat compatriot Shi Han in a highly anticipated all-Chinese clash on Thursday, while men's world No 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany and China's rising star Shang Juncheng set up a second-round meeting.
Despite making several unforced errors, Zheng, the Paris Olympic champion, advanced with a 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-2 victory over Shi.
"I wasn't in great form at the start of the match and it took me longer to find my rhythm. I was too rushed in the first and second sets. By the third set, however, I was able to read the match better and execute my strategies more effectively," Zheng said.
Zverev also overcame a slow start, finding his rhythm behind a series of powerful serves to beat Cameron Norrie 7-6 (1), 6-4 and advance to the second round.
"I thought it could be worse," Zverev said in his post-match news conference. "I can't complain, since I have only been in China for two days."
"I didn't return as well as I thought, but overall, it was a good match," he added.
Shang came from a set down to earn his first China Open victory, beating Sebastian Baez of Argentina 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
"In the next round, I'll be facing one of the best players in the game right now. I feel honored and excited, and I'm sure there will be plenty of fans cheering us on. I'll give it my all," Shang said.
The Chinese wild card will face top seed Zverev in the second round for a place in the quarterfinals.
Fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia recovered after being pushed to a first-set tiebreak to beat Argentina's Mariano Navone 7-6 (4), 6-2.
"I have various tournaments lined up in my schedule, and my goal is to achieve good results; that is the only way to qualify for the season-ending finals," de Minaur said.
"If I don't perform well, it simply won't happen. It's as straightforward as that. Ultimately, everything depends on my own performance."
In other action, China's 16-year-old Sun Xinran advanced after Germany's Eva Lys retired while trailing 6-1, 3-1.
