China’s Zheng Qinwen advanced to the third round of the China Open on Saturday after No.15 seed Anna Kalinskaya retired with illness, trailing 6-7(4), 6-4, 3-0.

The Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist lost the first set in a tie-break after failing to hold a 5-3 lead. She saved three break points early in the second set, then took the only break in the seventh game to level the match. In the third set, Kalinskaya called for a medical timeout and retired.

Zheng, ranked No.54 and unseeded, is continuing a strong comeback season. She reached the US Open quarter-finals as a qualifier last month, pushing eventual champion Elena Rybakina hard. She had missed much of the season after elbow surgery in 2025.

“To play in China is like playing the fifth Grand Slam for me,” Zheng said before the tournament. She will face No.18 seed Marie Bouzkova in the third round. Bouzkova ended Kimberly Birrell’s six-match winning streak 6-4, 6-4.

Also in Beijing on Saturday, 16-year-old wild card Sun Xinran stunned No.27 seed Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 7-5 to become the first 2010-born player to win a completed match at WTA 1000 level. She will face No.3 seed Coco Gauff next.