The Prague Post - Swiatek, Zheng survive three-set tests in China Open third round

Swiatek overcame frustration to cling on as her opponent served for the set, dominating a must-win tie-break to beat Croatia's Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2.

"I was just angry, wanted to change something, because clearly it wasn't working," the 25-year-old from Poland said on court.

"Sometimes if you care a bit less because you're... probably going to lose, it also helps you a bit," she later told reporters.

She will face American teenager Iva Jovic for a spot in the quarter-finals.

China's Zheng was tested by Marie Bouzkova, enduring her third three-setter of the tournament to beat the Czech player 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-5.

Zheng voiced frustration in each set at movement outside the court, including as she tried to salvage the second set on Bouzkova's serve.

But she pulled out some of her most accurate tennis to clinch the last two games and win the match when 27th-ranked Bouzkova fired long.

"I gave everything," said Zheng, who had already spent more than five hours on court in the first two rounds.

"Truthfully speaking, I felt a lot of pressure today," the 23-year-old told her home crowd, thanking fans for their support but commenting on distractions during play.

"Sometimes I'm a bit screaming in Chinese, because I really see you guys are moving, but next match I hope I will be better on this," she said.

Zheng, the current world number 54, next plays 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva, who sent out top seed Elena Rybakina in the second round.

Coco Gauff, the highest-ranked player left in the women's draw, was due to play Chinese 16-year-old Sun Xinran later on Monday.

Alex de Minaur was scheduled to play Hubert Hurkacz for the first spot in the men's final before a blockbuster clash between former world number ones Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.

Djokovic, 39, beat top seed Alexander Zverev in a three-set thriller on Sunday, extending his unbeaten streak in Beijing to 32 matches.

A.Slezak--TPP