Kristyna pliskova

WTA Berlin Ladies Open: World No.8 Zheng Qinwen hammered a season-high 23 aces on her way to a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka in the first round of the Berlin Ladies Open here on Tuesday. Victoria Azarenka also advanced to the second round while Ons Jabeur's march ahead was halted by poor weather.

Zheng's 23 aces are the most hit in a WTA Tour match this season, besting the previous mark of 19 by Karolina Pliskova against Anna Kalinskaya in Doha. It is the most in any match since Rebecca Marino hit 24 against Caroline Garcia in 2022 Guadalajara.

Since 2008, Zheng has been the seventh player to hit 23 or more aces in a match, joining Kristyna Pliskova (four times), Serena Williams (twice), Karolina Pliskova, Sabine Lisicki, Caroline Garcia and Rebecca Marino. It is the most aces given up by Osaka in her career, eclipsing the 16 struck by Karolina Pliskova in Brisbane this year.