Doha hosts the Ace Queen showdown today, with Zheng Qinwen facing Sabalenka in what is deemed a true test of her comeback.

As predicted by the public, there was no suspense as Zheng Qinwen and Sabalenka clashed in the third round in Doha! This highly anticipated "Ace Queen Battle" has pushed this 1000-level event to its climax.

While Sabalenka easily defeated Wang Xinyu 6-2, 6-4, Zheng Qinwen's win over Parks was a grueling 165-minute fight, narrowly escaping with a difficult and exhausting victory.

Before the match against Parks began, some observers believed that due to the American player's rough style and unstable form, Zheng Qinwen was likely to sweep the match. After all, she fired 20 aces against Kenin in the first round, overwhelming the former Australian Open champion. So, if Zheng could maintain that offensive firepower and apply a bit more pressure against Parks, a straight-sets victory seemed very possible.

However, the match proved far tougher than anyone imagined, with the first set going all the way to a tiebreak, in which Zheng Qinwen narrowly emerged victorious.

After Parks came back strong to take the second set 6-3, the outcome of the match suddenly became highly uncertain.

Fortunately, Zheng Qinwen managed to hold her nerve and sealed the deciding set 6-2, securing her second consecutive win since returning.

Although Zheng Qinwen ultimately won, many still believe she faces slim chances against the new Australian Open champion Sabalenka in the third round.

The current skepticism about Zheng Qinwen is not from internal criticism but stems from issues exposed during her match against Parks.

Foremost among these issues is the impact on Zheng’s fitness after back-to-back three-set battles over two days, causing a dip in her form. She managed 20 aces against Kenin in the first round, but only 5 aces against Parks in the second.

Parks’ ability to level the match by winning the second set 6-3 was mainly due to Zheng’s drop in form after the exhausting first-set tiebreak. Of course, Parks also struggled physically in the final set, losing 6-2, which might have otherwise cast doubt on whether Zheng could have advanced.

The second problem revealed by Zheng Qinwen is that she appears somewhat unable to withstand power. For example, against a power-oriented player like Parks, she managed only 15 winners in the match.

The final concern about China’s top player was captured poignantly by a netizen who said, though harsh, it was accurate: “Insufficient ability to consistently endure rallies and counterattack.”

With these issues looming ahead of her third-round clash against the in-form Sabalenka, many fans and commentators frankly say that although the new Australian Open champion seemed less explosive than before due to a cold, based on her match against Wang Xinyu, if Zheng doesn’t fix these problems, continuing to win will be extremely difficult and she is likely to be dominated.

Zheng Qinwen and Sabalenka have met three times previously, with Zheng’s sole win coming at the 2024 year-end finals when the Kazakh player was just returning from injury.

Now facing Sabalenka, fresh off her Australian Open title and appearing in Doha, few believe Zheng has a real chance based on their current displayed forms. Some have noted that Zheng’s confident remarks about her comeback and improved form must be truly tested against this formidable opponent.

When discussing this spotlight match between Zheng Qinwen and Sabalenka, the consensus is that the outcome will hinge on who performs better in serving and mental toughness.

Both China’s and Asia’s top players are known for their serving prowess and are regarded by fans as Ace Queens. Naturally, whoever serves better will likely control the match; mentally, Zheng has won once in three meetings and is not expected to be intimidated.

Although most people doubt Zheng Qinwen’s chances to advance further in Doha, she is not without hope. Some suggest that watching Wang Xinyu’s match against Sabalenka might offer Zheng valuable insights.

Wang Xinyu’s quick 2-6 loss in the first set reflected the skill gap, but in the second set, she pushed her limits and even led 4-2 at one point, showing Sabalenka is not unbeatable. It depends on the pressure applied and stamina. If Zheng can grasp this lesson deeply, she might have a chance against Sabalenka.

This high-profile match will start at 11 PM Beijing time tonight, fulfilling one of Zheng Qinwen’s pre-comeback wishes. The Chinese star emphasized before the tournament that her goal was to challenge top players like Sabalenka and others. Now the opportunity is here, and the results after facing the new Australian Open champion are eagerly anticipated!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlight River Starry Sky)