Jabeur shook off a slow start in the opening set, flipping a 1-3 deficit into a winning position as nine of the next eleven games to put herself up a set and 4-1.
As Zheng struggled to win points in the second set, Jabeur, who spent much of the 2024 season struggling with injury, grew in confidence, smacking a forehand winner to earn another break opportunity in the sixth game. A double fault from Zheng handed Jabeur a double-break lead, and the chance to serve out the upset.
Zheng lit up on the brink of defeat, capitalizing on some nerves from Jabeur to save a match point and claw back one of the breaks. But just as Zheng was getting into the match, she was undone by inconsistency and threw in another double fault down match point.
Up next for the three-time Grand Slam finalist is 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, who is making the most of her wild card with two victories over countrywomen Ashlyn Krueger (the Abu Dhabi Open finalist) and Alycia Parks.
