Zheng Qinwen came so close to winning the WTA Finals, leading Coco Gauff by a set and a break at 6-3, 3-1 in the final, as well as 2-0 and 5-3 in the third set. But even though the Olympic gold medalist ended up falling just short to the American, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2), she leaves Riyadh with a big silver lining.
Her run to the final has moved her up from No. 7 to No. 5 on the WTA rankings this week, her career Top 5 debut.
She’s the seventh tennis player born in the 2000s, male or female, to reach the Top 5 in either ATP or WTA rankings history.
PLAYERS BORN IN 2000 OR LATER TO REACH TOP 5 (ATP or WTA):
Bianca Andreescu [born in 2000, Top 5 debut in 2019]
Iga Swiatek [born in 2001, Top 5 debut in 2021]
Carlos Alcaraz [born in 2003, Top 5 debut in 2022]
Coco Gauff [born in 2004, Top 5 debut in 2022]
Holger Rune [born in 2003, Top 5 debut in 2023]
Jannik Sinner [born in 2001, Top 5 debut in 2023]
Zheng Qinwen [born in 2002, Top 5 debut in 2024]
She’s also just the second Chinese tennis player to reach the Top 5 in either ATP or WTA rankings history, after Li Na, who went as high as No. 2 on the WTA rankings in 2014.
