China's Zhu Lin upsets top seed Andreeva in round of 16 at WTA Ningbo Open

Experience trumped youth as China's Zhu Lin battled back from a set down to upset top‑seeded Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, advancing to the quarterfinals at the WTA Ningbo Open in front of a passionate home crowd on Wednesday.

Andreeva, the 18-year-old Russian who has enjoyed a breakout campaign and recently clinched a spot in the season-ending WTA Finals in doubles alongside Diana Shnaider, claimed the opening set 6-4 while looking increasingly intent on building up her promising singles resume.

But Zhu is no ordinary opponent. The 31-year-old, who missed last fall's China swing after an elbow injury sidelined her for six months, steadied herself to grab the second set 6-3. That sent the match into a decider.

Three weeks after losing to the World No 6 Andreeva in the second round at the China Open in Beijing, Zhu produced a far sterner third set in Ningbo, dominating 6-2 to seal the third victory of her career against a Top-10 opponent.

The 219th-ranked Zhu moves into her first Tour‑level quarterfinal since last season's Thailand Open, and will next face Andreeva's doubles partner Shnaider, with a place in the last four up for grabs.