Zheng Qinwen gets first win over Maria Sakkari to reach Zhengzhou Open quarters, Jasmine Paolini beats Caroline Garcia

World No. 3 Maria Sakkari bowed out of the Zhengzhou Open in China after a 7-6(2) 6-3 last-16 defeat to Zheng Qinwen.

The 21-year-old overcame the Greek star for the first time in her career at her home tournament to reach her fifth quarter-final of the season.

After three meetings with Sakkari, Zheng finally got the better of the 28-year-old to secure the fifth top-10win of her career.

“The last few times I played against her, I remember I was not aggressive enough.

“I stayed too long in the same spot. I also tried to improve my first serve percentage and return more in the middle. I had a good performance tonight, I think.”

Zheng certainly adopted an aggressive nature in the first set as she posted an early break and took the lead.

Sakkari got back to 4-4, and despite hitting a string of winners Zheng couldn’t regain her advantage in the next game and was made to serve twice to remain in the first set.

Despite the tightly-fought tactical battle in the opening set, Zheng dominated the tie-break to put one foot in the last eight.

Zheng’s backhand sizzled in the second set which was decided by a single break of serve.

She clinched the win with her second match point and 13th ace after notching 30 winners to 28 unforced errors. She will play Anhelina Kalinina in the next round.

Elsewhere, Caroline Garcia became another big-name exit when she lost to Jasmine Paolini for the first time.

Paolini, the 31st-ranked player, came into the match against world No. 6 Garcia without having won a set in four previous meetings.

The Italian saved four match points in a landmark 3-6 6-4 7-5 win to reach her fourth quarter-final of the season.