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ZHENGZHOU, China — Local favorite Zheng Qinwen beat top-seeded Maria Sakkari 7-6 (2), 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Zhengzhou Open on Wednesday.
Zheng, ranked No. 24, will next play Anhelina Kalinina, who earlier defeated qualifier Vera Zvonareva 7-5, 6-1.
Jasmine Paolini saved four match points as she claimed an unlikely victory against No. 10-ranked Caroline Garcia 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 for the Italian player’s first head-to-head win in five attempts.
The 31st-ranked Paolini will play either China Open finalist Liudmila Samsonova or Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals.
Ons Jabeur plays her first match of the tournament Thursday against Lucia Bronzetti.
The 83rd-ranked Belgian player will meet Polina Kudermetova, who defeated Kathinka von Deichmann 6-3, 6-1, on Friday.
In other matches, Claire Liu of the United States was leading seventh-seeded Arantxa Rus 1-6, 6-3, 3-0 when the Dutch player retired, while China’s Yuan Yue also advanced by walkover when Kaja Juvan retired trailing 6-4, 4-1.
Top-seeded Jessica Pegula plays her second-round match against fellow American Ashlyn Krueger on Thursday.
The 15th-ranked Haddad Maia needed three-and-a-half hours to see off the Russian player’s challenge and will next play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Third-seeded Elise Mertens beat Australian qualifier Daria Saville 6-1, 6-4. The 41st-ranked Belgian will next face qualifier Sofya Lansere, who beat wild-card Hong Yi Cody Wong 6-4, 6-0.
Other first-round winners included Sara Sorribes Tormo, Magdalena Frech and Alina Korneeva.
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