China’s Qinwen Zheng secured her spot in the last 16 at the BNP Paribas Open with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over New Zealand’s Lulu Sun on Sunday night. This win was a rematch of their 2024 Wimbledon clash, where Sun had emerged victorious. By winning this encounter, Zheng equalized their head-to-head record at 1-1.
Match Breakdown
- First Set: Zheng gained an early edge, breaking Sun’s serve twice by the fifth game. Sun, despite an impressive 96% first-serve percentage, managed to win only half of those points, while Zheng won 59% of her first-serve points.
- Second Set: Zheng started strong, but Sun quickly broke her serve, leveling the contest at 2-2 after scoring five consecutive points. However, Zheng’s efficiency in converting break points (6 out of 14) proved crucial. She dominated in key moments, winning seven consecutive points at one stage before breaking Sun late in the set to secure victory 7-5.
What’s Next?
Zheng will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk on Tuesday. Their head-to-head record stands at 1-1, making this an exciting clash.
Meanwhile, Lulu Sun ranked No. 49, had a strong tournament, claiming back-to-back wins for the first time this year. Her victories over No. 31 seed Linda Noskova and Rebecca Sramkova are expected to push her back into the Top 40 rankings.
Other Indian Wells Results (Third Round Matches):
- Iga Swiatek (2) def. Dayana Yastremska 6-0, 6-2
- Elena Rybakina (7) def. Katie Boulter (25) 6-0, 7-5
- Jessica Pegula (4) def. Xinyu Wang 6-2, 6-1
- Elina Svitolina (23) def. Danielle Collins (14) 6-2, 6-4
- Marta Kostyuk def. Caroline Dolehide (WC) 6-3, 6-3
The BNP Paribas Open continues with exciting matches ahead, as top-ranked players battle for a spot in the quarterfinals.
