WTA Doha, Qatar

WATCH: Zheng Qinwen hits Roger Federer-style tweener winner against Sakkari in Doha

Sakkari ended up winning the match, but Zheng will definitely be a Shot of the Year candidate with this one.

By John BerkokPublished February 14, 2023

Zheng Qinwen has been playing some of the best tennis of her career, just reaching the semifinals of the WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi last week and setting a new career-high of No. 24 yesterday.

And today in Doha, the Chinese rising star did this:

Zheng Qinwen Pulls Off Tweener Winner Against Sakkari In Doha1:02

One thing is for sure...

our shot of the month for February is going to be 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— wta (@WTA) February 14, 2023

After dropping the first set to Maria Sakkari, Zheng hit the tweener passing shot winner serving at 2-all, 30-0 in the second set, and ended up taking that set to push the match to a third—though the No. 7-ranked Sakkari ended up winning the match, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, Zheng will definitely end up on the highlight reels, and should at least be a Shot of the Year candidate with this one.

Zheng’s hot shot in Doha was reminiscent of this beauty from Roger Federer in the semifinals of the 2009 US Open:

THIS Federer shot right here is what I would show any non-tennis fan, if they asked to see an awesome shot.

Perhaps isn’t the most difficult shot of all-time or the most consequential one, but this tweener was *viral*, even before social media 🤯🌭 pic.twitter.com/rv58xHQws5
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) September 28, 2022

Zheng has said her first tennis memory was watching Federer.

“Actually, what I first remember about the sport is from Roger, when he was playing TV in front of my eyes,” she told Tennis Channel in December. “I was thinking in that moment, ‘Wow.’ Tennis such a beautiful sport, classic with Roger on the court.”