The former world number four and current Olympic champion was a wildcard entry in Beijing, having struggled with form and fitness after elbow surgery in 2025.
It was the 54th-ranked Zheng’s first title in nearly two years.
Zheng, 24, is the first Chinese player to win the tournament since its inception in 2004.
Andreeva, ranked five, was more consistent to start with, but Zheng grabbed back a break and stayed with her 19-year-old opponent as they battled on the baseline.
Zheng saved three set points to level 5-5 and won every single point after that, sending down an ace to grab the lead.
A crowd desperate to see their homegrown talent crowned champion was at times disruptive as cheers erupted before points ended and shouts for Zheng punctuated serves on both sides of the net.
But the players kept their focus, holding serve until Zheng found a way through in the ninth game of the second set, firing brilliantly against the line to break and go up 5-4.
A double-fault threatened to derail an imminent triumph until Zheng, defiant, sent down an ace to win on her first match point.
It is Zheng’s first trophy since October 2024 when she beat Sofia Kenin in Tokyo, and her first-ever title at the prestigious WTA 1000 level.
The players’ only previous meeting was in the 2024 China Open quarter-finals, where Zheng beat Andreeva in three sets. (AFP)
