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Zheng Qinwen of China celebrates her win over Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 11, 2025 in Indian Wells, California. Photo: VCG

At Indian Wells, the US, on Wednesday, China's tennis ace Zheng Qinwen defeated Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine 6-3, 6-2 to reach the last eight of the WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career. The 8th seed Zheng will face defending champion Iga Swiatek from Poland in the quarterfinals on Friday.   

Since her victory over Victoria Azarenka in the second round, Zheng has been setting new personal bests in the tournament with each win.

"Zheng's ability to stand in front of two-time tournament champion Swiatek has played a crucial role in boosting her confidence," Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"Her aggressive play and stability on the court are ­symbols of her gradual return to peak form," Liu noted.

During this season, due to factors such as elbow injuries and poor physical condition, Zheng was eliminated in the second round of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, and then suffered early exits in the first rounds at two consecutive WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai respectively.

"After a few days of rest, I've regained my form. Although recent results haven't been ideal, I am working hard to find my way back," Zheng said, referring to the cramps she suffered during the Dubai WTA event.

Before Indian Wells, Zheng announced the return of her coach Pere Riba, who played a key role in her breakthrough last season. His return undoubtedly increased Zheng's confidence.

On March 8, during the second round of the Indian Wells tournament, Zheng defeated two-time tournament champion Azarenka 2-0, marking her first victory over Azarenka in their three encounters. This was also Zheng's first match of the tournament after a first-round bye.

On March 10, Zheng secured her first consecutive wins of the new season by defeating Sun Lulu 6-4, 7-5.

Zheng will next face defending champion Swiatek. The two have met seven times previously, with Zheng winning only once. Zheng's only win over Swiatek came during the semifinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Earlier on Wednesday, Swiatek defeated the previously in-form Karolina Muchova with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 scoreline, finishing the match in just 57 minutes. 

Looking ahead to their first "reunion" since the Olympic Games, Swiatek stated that she must learn from the lessons of the 2024 Olympics when facing Zheng. 

She also wants to assess how Zheng is playing now, as it has been some time since their last encounter. ­Swiatek expressed that she will fully prepare for the upcoming match between them.

"I think both she and I will give it our all," Zheng said. "She has won her first three matches here quite easily. She's in great form, and so am I. We'll fight until the end and see what happens in the next match."

"Swiatek is undoubtedly one of the most dominant players on the women's tour right now, especially with her strong performances on hard courts," Liu said. 

The match between Zheng and Swiatek is likely to become a comprehensive test of technique, physical endurance, and mental toughness.