Qinwen Zheng won her first-round match in Bad Homburg, defeating Solana Sierra 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
What happened?
The match lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes, with Zheng coming back from a second-set loss to win the third set 6-4.
Zheng's victory sets up a second-round match against Clara Tauson, who defeated Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4.
Why it matters for Qinwen Zheng
This win is a morale-booster for Zheng, who is ranked No. 153 after undergoing elbow surgery last July.
Zheng has played only one tournament before February this year, making this victory a significant step in her return to form.
What comes next?
Zheng will face Tauson in the second round, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals.
Tauson leads the head-to-head against Zheng 1-0, but this will be their first meeting on grass.
And Zheng is looking to improve her grass-court record, having played only a few tournaments on the surface.
But Tauson is a tough opponent, having just defeated the seventh-seeded Shnaider.
So Zheng will need to be at her best to win the match.
Zheng's victory over Sierra was a hard-fought one, with the Argentine qualifier pushing her to three sets.
The match was a testament to Zheng's determination and skill, as she came back from a second-set loss to win the third set.
Zheng's serve was a key factor in the match, with her winning 60% of points on her first serve.
And her ability to convert break points was also crucial, with her converting four out of ten break-point opportunities.
The victory was a significant one for Zheng, who is looking to regain her form after a long injury layoff.
As of June 22, 2026, Zheng's ranking is No. 153, but she is looking to improve it with a good run in Bad Homburg.