Zheng Qinwen Overpowers Naomi Osaka With Strong Serve At Berlin Open

Naomi Osaka exited the Berlin Open after a tightly contested three-set match against Zheng Qinwen. The former world number one fought hard but ultimately succumbed to a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 defeat. This marks the second consecutive week Osaka has faced a similar outcome.

Osaka found herself trailing after Zheng claimed a break point in the fifth game of the first set. Despite rallying in the second set to level the match, Osaka could not maintain her momentum. Zheng's powerful serving, which included 10 aces in the final set, proved decisive in securing her victory.

The match lasted two hours and 10 minutes at the Steffi Graf Stadium. With this win, Zheng will face Katerina Siniakova in the last 16 on June 19. Should she advance, either Jessica Pegula or Donna Vekic will be her next opponent.

Zheng's victory was highlighted by her exceptional serving performance. She served 23 aces against Osaka, marking the highest tally in a single WTA match since Rebecca Marino's 24 aces against Caroline Garcia in Guadalajara in 2022. Zheng's first serve was particularly effective, winning 88 per cent of her first serve points, converting 44 out of 50 during the match.

The following table summarises key statistics from the match:

Zheng's next challenge will be against Katerina Siniakova, with potential future matches against top competitors like Jessica Pegula or Donna Vekic. This victory adds to Zheng's growing reputation as a formidable server on the WTA tour.