In her first appearance in the main draw of the Wuhan Open, Zheng delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday night, defeating Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 2-0 to claim her first victory at the tournament.

Zheng's magnetic presence was clear from the outset. During the brief eighth game, which lasted just six minutes, the crowd erupted into applause four times and cheered for her six times.

"For me, the crowd's support is a real source of energy right now. Playing in front of so many people — it just makes it that much more exciting," Zheng said.

The Wuhan Open, a WTA 1000 event drawing top talent from around the globe, cementing its status as one of the city's premier sporting showcases since its debut in 2014.

This year's tournament, held after a five-year hiatus, marks a significant milestone in Zheng's career. Five years ago, at just 16, she made her debut at the Wuhan Open as a wild-card entry in the qualifiers but fell in the first round to two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.