Zheng Saisai Explained

Zheng Saisai
郑赛赛
Residence:Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
Birth Date:5 February 1994
Birth Place:Xi'an, Shaanxi
Height:1.70 m
Turnedpro:2008[1]
Plays:Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach:Alan Ma
Careerprizemoney:US$ 4,278,946
Singlestitles:1
Highestsinglesranking:No. 34 (2 March 2020)
Currentsinglesranking:No. 1313 (12 August 2024)
Australianopenresult:2R (2016, 2020)
Frenchopenresult:2R (2021)
Wimbledonresult:2R (2018)
Usopenresult:2R (2014, 2016, 2017)
Othertournaments:yes
Olympicsresult:2R (2016)
Doublestitles:6
Highestdoublesranking:No. 15 (11 July 2016)
Currentdoublesranking:No. 68 (5 August 2024)
Australianopendoublesresult:SF (2013, 2016)
Frenchopendoublesresult:F (2019)
Wimbledondoublesresult:3R (2019)
Usopendoublesresult:QF (2019)
Othertournamentsdoubles:yes
Olympicsdoublesresult:2R (2016)
Australianopenmixedresult:QF (2020)
Wimbledonmixedresult:3R (2019)
Usopenmixedresult:1R (2013)
Team:yes
Updated:14 August 2024
S:郑赛赛
T:鄭賽賽
P:Zhèng Sài Sài

Zheng Saisai or Zheng Sai-Sai (; born 5 February 1994) is a Chinese tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 34, achieved on 2 March 2020, and a doubles ranking of No. 15, achieved on 11 July 2016. In her career, she won one singles title in 2019 (at the Premier event in Silicon Valley), and six doubles titles on the WTA Tour. She also reached the final of the 2019 French Open in doubles with compatriot Duan Yingying.

In addition, she won three singles and three doubles titles at WTA 125 tournaments, as well as twelve singles and nine doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit.

Playing for China Fed Cup team, Zheng has a win–loss record of 11–7 as of July 2024.

Early life and background

Zheng started playing tennis at age eight at tennis academy where mother worked. She stated that her tennis idol growing up was Justine Henin. Her favorite tournaments are Australian Open and Wimbledon. Zheng is coached by Alan Ma . Her favorite shot is drop shot.

Her father is of Tibetan ethnicity. She also has a Tibetan name, Suodian Zhuoma .[2]

Her nickname is Jaguar, for her footwork and defence.

Professional career

2008–12: WTA Tour debut & top 100 in doubles

Zheng began playing on the ITF Women's Circuit in June 2008, at the age of 14, where, at the $25k Qian Shan, she lost in the first round of qualifying against fellow Chinese Zhou Xiao. Her first main-draw appearance happened next year, at a $10k event in Jiangmen in February. In July 2009, she played her first ITF singles final and also win the trophy, at the $10k Shenzhen, after defeating Sabina Sharipova in the final. On the same tournament, she also made her doubles debut, but lost in the first round. In July 2010, she won her first ITF doubles title at the $10k Hefei, alongside Tian Ran. She won one singles title, at the $10k Taipei in October 2010.

In September 2011, Zheng made her WTA Tour debut in both singles and doubles at the Guangzhou International Open. There she won her first doubles title, partnering Hsieh Su-wei and defeating Chan Chin-wei and Han Xinyun in straight sets. In singles, she lost in the first round. Week later, she made her debut at the Premier Mandatory China Open as a wildcard player only in singles, but lost in round one. During the year, she also performed on the ITF Circuit in doubles, winning the $100k Ningbo Challenger alongside Tetiana Luzhanska in September 2011, right before she made her WTA Tour debut. As the year passed by, Zheng progressed more and more in doubles ranking, starting the year as No. 794 and finishing the year as world No. 108. In singles, she rose from 670 to No. 276.

At the 2012 French Open, Zheng made her doubles Grand Slam debut and also won her first match there. Later, she had her first attempts to be part of the Grand Slam tournament main draw in singles, but lost in the qualifying of Wimbledon, and later of the US Open. In July 2012, she won her first singles match at the Premier-level Stanford Classic, defeating Ayumi Morita in the first round. For the second year-in-a-row, she played at the China Open as wildcard player, but again lost in the first round. This time she also played in doubles, but lost in the first round. During the season, she progress in singles ranking, entering top 150 for the first time in September 2012 and finished year as world No. 133. In doubles, she debuted in the top 100 in February 2012, then rose to No. 84 in July, but finished the year as world No. 98.

2013–15: Progress, Australian Open semifinal in doubles

Zheng had a strong start of the year, reaching Australian Open doubles semifinal as her first significant major result. In that semifinal match, she partnered with Varvara Lepchenko, and they were defeated by Australians Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua, in straight sets. She still do not shine in singles, but continued with good performances in doubles, reaching quarterfinals at the French Open, also with Lepchenko, where they were defeated by top-seeded Italian duo Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, in straight sets.[3] In August, she made progress in singles, reaching the final of the Suzhou Ladies Open, but lost to Shahar Peer. By the end of the year, in singles, she reached two WTA 125 quarterfinals, in Nanjing and Taipei, while at both those tournaments she reached semifinals in doubles. She also reached semifinal of the International-level Japan Women's Open in doubles. In the doubles ranking, Zheng debut in the top 50 in doubles, getting to place 49 in March, and then rose to No. 38, that also was her year-end ranking. In singles, she made ups and downs in the rankings, but spent whole year inside top 200. She finished the year as world No. 162.

Things became better for Zheng in singles in 2014. She had her major main-draw debut in singles, passed qualifying at the US Open and also then her first match-win there. She defeated Stefanie Vögele in the first round, but then lost to Lucie Šafářová. She then had success at both WTA Tour and WTA 125 tournaments. On WTA Tour, she first reached quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open and then semifinals of the Tianjin Open, while on the Challenger Tour, she reached quarterfinals in Suzhou, Ningbo and Taipei. During the year, she reached one final in doubles, at the Malaysian Open in April. On 13 October 2014, she entered top 100 in singles, when she reached the spot of world No. 92. Zheng finished 2014 season as the 97th.[4] In doubles, she had ups and downs but spent the whole year inside top 100 and finished 81st.

During the year, Zheng made good performances, both in singles and doubles. Her most valued title of the year was at the Premier-level Stanford Classic in doubles event in August. That was her first final and title from higher-level tournament, than International. Along with that, in October she won Tianjin Open, also in doubles. In singles, her most recognized result of the year was in the first week of the year, at the Shenzhen Open, where she reached semifinal. In the second half of the year, she reached two quarterfinals, at the Japan Open and Guangzhou Open. On the WTA Challenger Tour, she reached final of the Dalian Open in singles, while in doubles she won the title, and so she did at the Jiangxi Open. On the ITF Circuit, she won two $75k titles in singles and one in doubles. At the end of the year, she was handed a wildcard for the WTA Elite Trophy in singles. However, she lost both matches in the round-robin group, to Madison Keys and Venus Williams.

2019–21: First WTA Tour title and top 35 in singles, French Open doubles final

At the 2019 French Open, Zheng made her first Grand Slam final, alongside Duan Yingying; they lost against Tímea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic, in straight sets.[5]

In August, Zheng won her first WTA Tour singles title at the Silicon Valley Classic when she defeated second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the final.[6]

She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 34 on 2 March 2020, following a second quarterfinal showing at the Qatar Ladies Open with a win over world No. 6 and seventh seed Kiki Bertens.[7]

2024: Italian Open doubles semifinal, sixth title, back to top 75

Following her comeback after two years hiatus, using protected ranking, she reached the second round at the Miami Open and the quarterfinals for a second time at the Madrid Open with Wang Xinyu. She also reached the semifinals for the first time at the next WTA 1000, the Italian Open, again with Wang Xinyu, upsetting top seeds Hsieh/Mertens to face third seeds Gauff/Routliffe for a spot in the final.[8] Following her sixth title at the 2024 Berlin Ladies Open with Wang, she returned to the top 75 in the doubles rankings, raising more than 50 positions, on 24 June 2024.

Performance timelines

Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.[9]

Singles

Tournament20112012201320142015201620172018201920202021...2024Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAAQ1Q11R2R1RA1R2R1R0 / 62–6
French OpenAAQ1Q21R1R1R1R1RA2R0 / 61–6
WimbledonAQ2AQ11R1R1R2R1Rstyle=color:#767676NHA0 / 51–5
US OpenAQ3Q12R1R2R2RQ11RAA0 / 53–5
Win–loss0–00–00–01–10–42–41–41–20–41–11–20 / 227–22
Year-end championships
WTA Elite Trophystyle=color:#767676 colspan=4DNQRRstyle=color:#767676 colspan=3DNQbgcolor=yellowSFNH0 / 21–4
National representation
Summer Olympicsstyle=color:#767676NHANH2RNH1R0 / 21–2
WTA 1000
Dubai / Qatar OpenAAAAAQF2RA2RQF1R0 / 58–5
Indian Wells OpenAAQ1A1RQ2AA1RNH1R0 / 30–3
Miami OpenAAAA2R1RAA1Rstyle=color:#767676NH2R0 / 41–4
Madrid OpenAAAAAQ12RA3Rstyle=color:#767676NH2R0 / 34–3
Italian OpenAAAAAQ1Q1A1RA1R0 / 20–2
Canadian OpenAAAAA1RAA1Rstyle=color:#767676NHA0 / 20–2
Cincinnati OpenAAAAA1RAA2RAA0 / 21–2
Pan Pacific / Wuhan OpenAAAA1R1RA2RANH0 / 31–3
China Open1R1RQ1A1R1RA2R3Rstyle=color:#767676 colspan="2" NH0 / 63–6
Career statistics
Tournaments23362124101223418Career total: 126
Titles00000000100Career total: 1
Finals00000001100Career total: 2
Overall win–loss0–22–31–36–69–2213–245–1013–1221–246–410–181 / 12686–128
Win (%)Career total:
Year-end ranking2761331629770859446394180$4,172,018

Doubles

Tournament20112012201320142015201620172018201920202021...2024SRW–LWin%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAAbgcolor=yellowSFstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:yellowSFstyle=background:#afeeee3RAstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1RA0 / 810–8
French OpenAstyle=background:#afeeee2RQFstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee2RQFQFstyle=background:#afeeee1Rbgcolor=thistleFAstyle=background:#afeeee2RA0 / 918–8
WimbledonAstyle=background:#afeeee1R2RAstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee1RAAstyle=background:#afeeee3Rstyle=color:#767676NHAstyle=background:#afeeee1R0 / 63–6
US OpenAstyle=background:#afeeee1Rstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee3Rstyle=background:#afeeee2Rstyle=background:#afeeee1RQFAA0 / 89–8
style=text-align:leftWin–loss0–01–39–42–32–49–46–30–210–40–11–10 / 3140–30
National representation
Summer Olympicsstyle=color:#767676NHAstyle=color:#767676 colspan=3NH2Rstyle=color:#767676 colspan=4NH1R1R0 / 31–3
WTA 1000
Dubai / Qatar OpenAAAAA2R1RA1R1R1RA0 / 51–5
Indian Wells OpenAA1RAA2RAAANH1RA0 / 31–3
Miami OpenAAAA1Rbgcolor=yellowSFAAAstyle=color:#767676NH1R2R0 / 44–4
Madrid OpenAAAAA2RAAAstyle=color:#767676NHQFQF0 / 35–3
Italian OpenAAA2RA1RQFAAA2Rbgcolor=yellowSF0 / 56–5
Canadian OpenAAAAA1RAA1Rstyle=color:#767676NHAA0 / 20–2
Cincinnati OpenAA1RAA2RA1R1RAA0 / 41–4
Pan Pacific / Wuhan OpenAAAA1R1RA2RANH0 / 31–3
China OpenA1R1R1R1R1RA1R1Rstyle=color:#767676 colspan="2" NH0 / 70–7
Career statistics
Tournaments181111152381015516Career total: 123
Titles10002000101Career total: 5
Finals10013100223Career total: 13
Overall win–loss4–02–813–107–1116–1323–2310–84–917–148–515–144 / 122119–115
Year-end ranking108983981392465151272843

Grand Slam tournament finals

Doubles: 1 (runner-up)

WTA Tour finals

Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Legend
Grand Slam
WTA 1000
Premier / WTA 500 (1–0)
International / WTA 250 (0–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–1)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Jiangxi International Open, ChinaInternationalHard
Win1–1Silicon Valley Classic, United StatesPremierHard Aryna Sabalenka6–3, 7–6(7–3)

Doubles: 14 (6 titles, 8 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam (0–1)
WTA 1000 (0–0)
Premier / WTA 500 (2–1)
International / WTA 250 (4–6)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Guangzhou Open, ChinaInternationalHard Hsieh Su-wei Chan Chin-wei
Han Xinyun		6–2, 6–1
Loss1–1Malaysian OpenInternationalHard Chan Yung-jan Tímea Babos
Chan Hao-ching		3–6, 4–6
Loss1–2Internationaux de Strasbourg,
France		InternationalClay Nadiia Kichenok Chuang Chia-jung
Liang Chen		6–4, 4–6, [10–12]
Win2–2Silicon Valley Classic, U.S.PremierHard Xu Yifan Anabel Medina Garrigues
Arantxa Parra Santonja		6–1, 6–3
Win3–2Tianjin Open, ChinaInternationalHard Xu Yifan Darija Jurak
Nicole Melichar		6–2, 3–6, [10–8]
Loss3–3Shenzhen Open, ChinaInternationalHard Xu Yifan Vania King
Monica Niculescu		1–6, 4–6
Win4–3Abierto Mexicano, MexicoInternationalHard Victoria Azarenka Desirae Krawczyk
Giuliana Olmos		6–1, 6–2
Loss4–4French OpenGrand SlamClay Duan Yingying Tímea Babos
Kristina Mladenovic		2–6, 3–6
Loss4–5Jan 2020Shenzhen Open, ChinaInternationalHard Duan Yingying Barbora Krejčíková
Kateřina Siniaková		2–6, 6–3, [4–10]
Loss4–6Dubai Championships, UAEPremierHard Barbora Krejčíková Hsieh Su-wei
Barbora Strýcová		5–7, 6–3, [5–10]
Loss4–7Monterrey Open, MexicoWTA 250Hard Heather Watson Caroline Dolehide
Asia Muhammad		2–6, 3–6
Win5–7Courmayeur Open, ItalyWTA 250Hard (i) Wang Xinyu6–4, 3–6, [10–5]
Loss5–8Linz Open, AustriaWTA 250Hard (i) Wang Xinyu4–6, 2–6
Win6–8Jun 2024Berlin Ladies Open, Germany WTA 500Grass Wang Xinyu6–2, 7–5

WTA Challenger finals

Singles: 5 (3 titles, 2 runner-ups)

ResultW–LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss1–0Suzhou Ladies Open, ChinaHard Shahar Pe'er2–6, 6–2, 3–6
Win1–1Dalian Open, ChinaHard Julia Glushko2–6, 6–1, 7–5
Win2–1Zhengzhou Open, ChinaHard Wang Yafan5–7, 6–2, 6–1
Loss2–2Kunming Open, ChinaClay Irina Khromacheva6–3, 4–6, 6–7(5–7)
Win3–2Kunming Open, ChinaClay Zhang Shuai6–4, 6–1

Doubles: 3 (3 titles)

ResultW–LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Jiangxi Open, ChinaHard Chang Kai-chen Chan Chin-wei
Wang Yafan		6–3, 4–6, [10–3]
Win2–0Dalian Open, ChinaHard Zhang Kailin Chan Chin-wei
Darija Jurak		6–3, 6–4
Win3–0Columbus Challenger, U.S.Hard (i) Wang Xinyu Dalila Jakupović
Nuria Párrizas Díaz		6–1, 6–1

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 20 (12 titles, 8 runner–ups)

Legend
$100,000 tournaments (2–1)
$75,000 tournaments (2–0)
$50/60,000 tournaments (5–3)
$25,000 tournaments (1–2)
$10,000 tournaments (2–2)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Jul 2009ITF Shenzhen, China10,000Hard Sabina Sharipova7–5, 6–4
Loss1–1Apr 2010ITF Ningbo, China10,000Hard Tian Ran6–2, 6–3
Loss1–2Jun 2010ITF Hefei, China10,000Hard Duan Yingying6–3, 6–4
Win2–2Oct 2010ITF Taipei, Taiwan10,000Hard Zhang Ling6–3, 6–3
Loss2–3Jan 2011ITF Muzaffarnagar, India25,000Grass Tadeja Majerič6–2, 5–7, 6–2
Loss2–4Jan 2011Burnie International, Australia25,000Hard Eugenie Bouchard6–4, 6–3
Loss2–5Apr 2012ITF Wenshan, China50,000Hard Hsieh Su-wei6–3, 6–3
Win3–5May 2012Kurume Cup, Japan50,000Grass Monique Adamczak7–5, 6–2
Win4–5Oct 2012ITF Taipei, Taiwan25,000Hard Zarina Diyas6–4, 6–1
Loss4–6Sep 2013ITF Sanya, China50,000Hard Karolína Plíšková6–3, 6–4
Win5–6May 2014Anning Open, China50,000Clay Jovana Jakšić6–2, 6–3
Win6–6Apr 2015Kangaroo Cup, Japan75,000Hard Naomi Osaka3–6, 7–5, 6–4
Win7–6May 2015Anning Open, China (2)75,000Clay Han Xinyun6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Loss7–7Mar 2017Zhuhai Open, China60,000Hard Denisa Allertová3–6, 6–2, 4–6
Win8–7Apr 2017Blossom Cup, China60,000Hard Liu Fangzhou6–2, 6–3
Win9–7Apr 2017Kunming Open, China100,000+HClay Zarina Diyas7–5, 6–4
Win10–7Apr 2018Blossom Cup, China (2)60,000Hard Liu Fangzhou6–3, 6–1
Win11–7Oct 2018Suzhou Ladies Open, China100,000Hard Jana Čepelová7–5, 6–1
Loss11–8Nov 2018Shenzhen Longhua Open, China100,000Hard Ivana Jorović3–6, 6–2, 4–6
Win12–8Sep 2021Portugal Ladies Open60,000+HHard Harmony Tan6–4, 3–6, 6–3

Doubles: 16 (9 titles, 7 runner–ups)

Legend
$100,000 tournaments (2–1)
$75,000 tournaments (2–1)
$50/60,000 tournaments (1–0)
$25,000 tournaments (3–4)
$10,000 tournaments (1–1)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Jun 2010ITF Hefei, China10,000Hard Tian Ran Bai Xi
Zhang Kailin		6–0, 6–4
Loss1–1Oct 2010ITF Taipei, Taiwan10,000Hard Juan Ting-fei Kao Shao-yuan
Wang Qiang		6–3, 7–6(7–2)
Win2–1May 2011ITF Changwon, South Korea25,000Hard Chan Hao-ching Yurika Sema
Erika Takao		6–2, 4–6, [11–9]
Loss2–2Aug 2011Beijing Challenger, China75,000Hard Tetiana Luzhanska Chan Hao-ching
Chan Yung-jan		6–2, 6–3
Win3–2Sep 2011Ningbo International, China100,000Hard Tetiana Luzhanska Chan Chin-wei
Han Xinyun		6–4, 5–7, [10–4]
Loss3–3Feb 2012Launceston International, Australia25,000Hard Hsieh Shu-ying Kotomi Takahata
Shuko Aoyama		6–4, 6–4
Win4–3Mar 2012ITF Sanya, China25,000Hard Erika Sema Liang Chen
Zhou Yimiao		6–2, 6–2
Loss4–4Mar 2012ITF Phuket, Thailand25,000Hard Chan Chin-wei Natela Dzalamidze
Marta Sirotkina		4–6, 1–6
Win5–4Mar 2012ITF Phuket, Thailand25,000Hard Noppawan Lertcheewakarn Sun Shengnan
Han Xinyun		6–3, 6–3
Win6–4May 2012Kangaroo Cup, Japan50,000Hard Jessica Pegula Chan Chin-wei
Hsu Wen-hsin		6–4, 3–6, [10–4]
Loss6–5Sep 2012Ningbo International, China100,000Hard Tetiana Luzhanska Shuko Aoyama
Chang Kai-chen		2–6, 5–7
Loss6–6Apr 2014Nanning Open, China25,000Hard Zhang Ling Zhang Kailin
Han Xinyun		6–7(8–10), 6–7(3–7)
Win7–6May 2014Empire Slovak Open75,000Clay Stephanie Vogt Margarita Gasparyan
Evgeniya Rodina		6–4, 6–2
Win8–6May 2015Anning Open, China75,000Hard Xu Yifan Yang Zhaoxuan
Ye Qiuyu		7–5, 6–2
Win9–6Jul 2018Contrexéville Open, France100,000Clay An-Sophie Mestach Prarthana Thombare
Eva Wacanno		3–6, 6–2, [10–7]
Loss9–7Nov 2019ITF Hua Hin, Thailand25,000Hard Ng Kwan-yau Tamarine Tanasugarn
Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove		2–6, 6–7(5–7)

Summer Youth Olympic Games

Doubles: 1 (gold medal)

Wins over top-10 players

PlayerRankEventSurfaceScore
2016
1. Petra KvitováNo. 6Shenzhen OpenHard1R6–2, ret.
2. Angelique KerberNo. 2Qatar Ladies OpenHard2R7–5, 6–1
3. Agnieszka RadwańskaNo. 5Rio OlympicsHard1R6–4, 7–5
2017
4. Elina SvitolinaNo. 10Madrid OpenClay1R2–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–3
2019
5. Aryna SabalenkaNo. 10Stanford ClassicHardF6–3, 7–6(7–3)
2020
6. Kiki BertensNo. 6Qatar Ladies OpenHard3R3–6, 6–3, 6–4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saisai Zheng . WTA.
  2. Web site: 输球收获成长 郑赛赛期待喝彩_华奥星空-中国专业体育网站国家队 . 2018-09-23 . 2017-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170306143940/http://jingji.sports.cn/ywyl/2015/1106/139264.html . dead .
  3. Web site: Prakash. June 5, 2013. Tennis - Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci reach French Open doubles quarter finals. 12 April 2021. tennis world.
  4. Web site: Zheng Saisai ranking history. 12 April 2021. WTA Tennis.
  5. Web site: David Kane. June 9, 2019. Mladenovic cements No.1 status, claims French Open title with Babos. 12 April 2021. WTA Tennis.
  6. Web site: David Kane. August 5, 2019. 'I'm playing my tennis and stopped copying others' - Zheng stumps Sabalenka for first WTA title in San Jose. 12 April 2021. WTA Tennis.
  7. Web site: Rising Chinese star Zheng’s WTA Tour dream on track. 29 February 2020.
  8. Web site: A quarterfinal upset in Rome . 15 May 2024.
  9. Web site: Zheng Saisai [CHN] | Australian Open]. ausopen.com.

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