WORLD number seven Qinwen Zheng wasted no time asserting her authority on the second round match at her home WTA 1000 tournament, defeating Russian lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova in an hour and 15 minutes, dropping just two games along the way.

It was Zheng’s first career win at the event with plenty of support cheering her on from the nation’s capital as the top ranked Chinese hope quickly wrapped up proceedings much to the delight of the crowd. With the stadium pumping, Zheng won 6-1 6-1 to smash her way into the Round of 32 where a meeting with Nadia Podoroska awaits.

Zheng only served the one ace on the hardcourt but completely denied her 71st ranked opponent any leeway in terms of cracking through on return. The fifth seed at the event won 28 of 33 points off her serve – at an 85 per cent success rate – while the 23-year-old Rakhimova managed just 41 per cent of her service points in a one-sided affair.

The higher ranked player broke five times from 10 chances en route to the victory and ensure she moved deeper into the tournament as her quest for a fourth career WTA Tour title continues to go with her Olympic Gold Medal in Paris.

Zheng knows all about beltings on the main courts at the event, copping a 6-1 6-2 walloping in the first round to fifth seed Elena Rybakina 12 month ago. Fast forward to 2024, and the crowd did everything to help get their hero across the line.

“Atmosphere was insane,” Zhang said post-match. “I never thought it will be so full in the center court. They put on my [favourite Chinese pop song]. They just did everything for me.

“Honestly when I played last year in China Open, I remember it wasn’t that full. Today I see there’s nearly no empty seat.”

Zheng’s form in 2024 has potentially snuck up on people, but the world number seven has won 17 of her past 19 matches, including her second successive Palermo title to go with a repeat of a US Open quarter final before losing to the same player as in 2023, Aryna Sabalenka.

“I think after US Open, I been working really hard because I know there’s a long time I didn’t practice normal,” Zheng said. “Also I put lot of work in my fitness. I didn’t stop to put my effort in after Olympic Games.

“I did some mistake after Australian Open. This time I just say I just going to keep pushing hard and let’s see if I can keep rising up without any backing up.”

Speaking of Sabalenka, the top seed also won through to the third round after a win on the same center court with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-4 6-1. Among the other seeds to win were third seed Jasmine Paolini, ninth seed Daria Kasatkina and 13th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

There were a few upsets to go along with it, including Podoroska’s three-set epic against Ukrainian 25th seed Dayana Yastremska, while seventh seed Barbora Krejcikova and 11th seed Liudmila Samsonova bowed out to Romanian Jaqueline Cristian and Cristina Bucsa respectively.

Among the other easy winners were young Russian Mirra Andreeva and American Madison Keys, while while other seeds Donna Vekic, Elise Mertens, Magda Linette and Amanda Anisimova all fought through three sets to reach the third round. Other winners were Czech Karolina Muchova and American Ashlyn Krueger.