Zhu Lin continues to turn heads at the WTA 500 AUX Ningbo Open, building on her impressive first-round victory over Emma Raducanu with a remarkable upset against top seed Mirra Andreeva. This thrilling second-round match, which unfolded on Wednesday evening, saw Zhu rally from a set down to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win, marking her second consecutive victory over a Top 30 opponent in just over 48 hours.
Zhu’s journey has been anything but smooth since returning from a six-month layoff due to an elbow injury. After struggling to maintain her form earlier this year, her defeat of Raducanu and now Andreeva has propelled her surge back up the rankings, from No. 219 to a live position of 170.
The match itself was no walk in the park for Zhu. She faced intense pressure from Andreeva, who was eager to redeem last year’s final run at the Ningbo Open but fell short, racking up an uncharacteristic 67 unforced errors. Zhu, demonstrating a newfound resilience, was able to capitalize on her opponent’s inconsistencies, converting almost 40% of her break point opportunities.
Reflecting on her performance, Zhu expressed her pride in her determination, stating, “It was really intense… I’m really proud of never giving up.” This fight and spirit are essential as she prepares for her next challenge against seventh seed Diana Shnaider.
Shnaider herself advanced with a hard-fought victory over Karolina Muchova, exhibiting a surge in form after a difficult few weeks. The Russian’s ability to recover after dropping the first set highlights her tenacity, as she won 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. This encounter sets the stage for another pivotal showdown between Zhu and Shnaider, with Shnaider holding a 2-0 lead in their head-to-head matchups.
Meanwhile, Belinda Bencic secured a place in the quarter-finals following an epic three-hour and 33-minute battle against qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva, which is now the longest match of the 2025 season. In a dramatic display of tennis, Bencic managed to fend off a late resurgence from her opponent, ultimately winning 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. In a match filled with momentum swings, Bencic seemed poised for victory at 5-2 in the third set, but Starodubtseva clawed her way back, extending the match with an inspired performance.
Commenting on her win, Bencic emphasized the intensity of the match, lauding her opponent’s skill while expressing her satisfaction in maintaining her composure down the stretch. With this victory, Bencic advances to meet either Jasmine Paolini or Veronika Kudermetova, further solidifying her impressive campaign this year.
Aila Tomljanovic also made headlines with her own thrilling 7-6(6), 6-3 victory over Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez. Trailing 0-5 in the first set, Tomljanovic’s comeback mirrors the resilience on display elsewhere in the tournament and marks her first WTA quarter-final appearance since the Morocco event in May.
In a tournament where emerging players like Zhu and veteran competitors like Bencic are trading blows, the excitement in Ningbo is palpable, setting the stage for more exhilarating matches as the competition progresses.
