On that rainy Saturday night in Beijing, it was electric times at the Diamond Court of the National Tennis Center as China tennis sensation Qinwen Zheng took center stage again. The 21-year-old world number 7 was making her much-anticipated return to the China Open and was not there to disappoint. In a stunning display of dominance, Zheng built her way through a formidable Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 upset to reach the third round of this prestigious WTA 1000 event.
This match would last for only 75 minutes, a testament to the growing prowess Zheng was gaining on the international tennis stage. Far removed from last year’s tournament debut in which she stunned at a first-round loss in the surprising event, Zheng came into this competition seeded fifth and enjoyed a first-round bye; an exhibit of the remarkable progress she has made in just one year.
Qinwen Zheng Olympic Glory to WTA Ambitions
Rising meteorically in the Qinwen Zheng tennis world, she is none other than a recent Olympic triumph in Paris in women’s singles. She won herself a gold medal, and overnight, she shot to national hero status in China. Zheng, however, does not take much time for laurels. She has already changed her focus to her WTA Tour ambitions with the glow of Olympic success still fresh on them.
“I’m very satisfied with today’s overall performance,” Zheng remarked after her match against Rakhimova. “I always practice with male players during training, and I often get beaten, which is frustrating, but today’s match went really smoothly. I haven’t had such a smooth match in a long time, especially since every match at the US Open was tough.”
This statement also reflects her commitment to self-improvement and gives an insight into how stringent her practice is. The fact that she practices regularly with male players herself gives an important point about the progress she is making towards taking her game to a different level altogether.
The “Queenwen” Effect
As Qinwen Zheng took to the Beijing court, it became obvious that the “Queenwen” effect – a nickname her fans have bestowed upon her – was put to full use. The Diamond Court, seating for 15,000, reached nearly capacity, with more than 12,000 zealous fans gathering to watch their own homegrown heroine take center stage on the court. The energy in the stadium became palpable as if the crowd was hanging on every single point and cheering her winners left and right.
“I was surprised to see so many fans at the venue today, and I really appreciate everyone’s support,” Zheng said, clearly moved by the overwhelming show of support. “I hope I can go further in the China Open, so you all can have more opportunities to watch me play.”
A key component of Qinwen Zheng’s building star power is her connection with the fans. Zheng has a talent for inspiring people both on and off the court just like China’s last global tennis icon, Li Na. However, in her own right, Zheng is working rapidly to establish her individual identity in the sport.
Qinwen Zheng leading to the Road to the WTA Finals
While the China Open is undoubtedly an important tournament for Qinwen Zheng, more than this, she is looking for a major prize – qualification for the year-end WTA Finals. Now at No. 9 in the Race to the Finals, Zheng is tantalizingly close to qualifying for the strong tournament that features the top eight of the season.
Her journey towards qualification was lightened a little bit by compatriot and veteran player Zhang Shuai as she dethroned one of Zheng’s direct competitors for a slot in the Finals, Emma Navarro in the first round of the China Open. However, Zheng is very much aware that every match and point matters now in the season.
“I did some mistakes after the Australian Open,” Zheng reflected, referring to a period earlier in the year when her form dipped slightly. “This time I just say I’m just going to keep pushing hard and let’s see if I can keep rising up without any backing up.”
Zheng’s actual strength is the will to sustain this momentum and the desire to keep getting better. That’s the attitude that has propelled her so far now and can indeed look her all the way to that coveted spot in the WTA Finals.
The Making of a Champion: Qinwen Zheng Journey
In fact, by the age of eight, she had moved to Wuhan to start training; it would be the move to change her life and assume a significant role in her development as a player. Qinwen Zheng: Shiyan, Hubei province At seven, she set out on her journey to stardom in Qinwen Zheng tennis league.
Zheng was a star from an early age and made rapid strides through the junior levels. In 2019, she moved to Barcelona, Spain, with her mother to further develop her game at one of the world’s premier tennis training grounds.
The Influence of Qinwen Zheng coach
Qinwen Zheng has had many coaches throughout her career with whom she has played out some difficult moments. However, one of the greatest coaches ever will be remembered as Carlos Rodriguez, former coach to her heroine Li Na. Rodriguez was Qinwen Zheng coach through the start-up of her career in Beijing and shaped not only the very aggressive baseline game but also her mental toughness.
Since 2021, Pere Riba has been mentoring her while she starts to catch up on the WTA Tour. With Riba by her side, Zheng flourished on the courts and rapidly gained the ranks straight into her first WTA titles.
While Zheng has been on the roster of Wim Fissette, the coach who had been in tow with Naomi Osaka for several years, since 2023, she switched back to Pere Riba heading into 2024. Moving back to the coaching setup that she knows well, Zheng is evidencing excellent self-awareness about her game and what works.
Physical Attributes and Playing Style
Being 6 feet tall (183 cm), the physical attributes fitting to the modern game are just perfectly matched by Qinwen Zheng. Her height means she can generate lots of power on her serve and groundstrokes, making her quite a deadly opponent from deep in her court.
Zheng played pretty aggressively, baselining long, big serving with forehand control over points. Very impressive movement from a small-sized girl; her service is conducive to defending well and switching back to an offensive player immediately.
Milestones and Achievements
Qinwen Zheng’s rise through the ranks of Qinwen Zheng tennis has been marked by several significant milestones:
- She reached the fourth round of the French Open in 2022, signaling her arrival on the stage of Grand Slam.
- She ended the year as WTA Newcomer of the Year for her great debut season.
- She won two of her first WTA titles, one of them at the Palermo Ladies Open in 2023.
- Perhaps, reaching her first quarterfinal of a Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open makes Cosmouviera a rising star in every way.
- Zheng became the first Chinese player in history to ever reach a Grand Slam final in singles at the 2024 Australian Open.
- Her crowning glory to date was at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she took home the gold in women’s singles tennis. This puts her into record books as the first Asian tennis player to clinch top honors.
Olympic Triumph and Its Impact
Qinwen Zheng’s Olympic gold medal triumph in Paris represents a watershed moment: for her career but for Chinese and Asian tennis at large. There is no way to put it lightly; it was well onto the pinnacle of success that even Li Na, though illustrious, hadn’t achieved.
Reflecting on the broader impact of her victory, Zheng reflects on what she has experienced since winning: “I watched [Li Na] since I was a little kid so I’m trying to follow in her steps. She inspired me a lot when I was a child.” Now, Zheng finds herself in a position to inspire the next generation of Asian tennis players and takes it full-heartedly.
“I always wanted to become one of the Asians that can inspire young kids and make them love tennis more,” Zheng said following her gold medal win. This desire to be a role model and grow the sport in Asia adds another layer to Zheng’s already compelling narrative as she continues to make her mark on the global tennis stage.
The China Open: A Homecoming for Qinwen Zheng
Now returned to play in China following the success of the Qinwen Zheng Olympics, Qinwen Zheng has had to cope with a completely different kind of pressure, that from expectations at home crowds, but she is not burdened by it, choosing instead to feed off the support as it fuels her performances.
“I don’t consider that, like, big pressure,” Zheng explained before the tournament. “I will consider it like big support. Especially when I’m feeling down, I see all the people support me. It is quite different to play in China compared to the rest of the world. I know basically all of them, 95% of the crowd, they going to support me. It’s a big confidence. It’s also a big energy there when I’m playing on court.”
This positive mindset was evident in her commanding performance against Rakhimova, where she seemed to draw energy from the enthusiastic crowd.
A Festival Atmosphere
The organizers of the China Open have done everything possible to make Qinwen Zheng feel at ease. Preferential court assignments and start times have been given, even Chinese pop songs during the changeovers-she loves it-so an atmosphere has been created for Zheng to shine.
Zheng mentioned the attention to detail. “I tried to be serious, but they were playing that music, so I couldn’t help myself,” she said with a smile after her match. “I had to move with the music, sing with the music because they were playing the songs I love. And I was curious why the audience was not dancing with me.”
These lighter moments and playing around with the audience speak to another aspect of Qinwen Zheng – her star power and appeal to the masses, qualities sure to help her on her way to reaching even greater heights as she continues to build her international fan base.
A Glance Ahead: The Rest of the Season and Beyond
Maybe the remaining rounds of the tournament provide the ultimate test Qinwen Zheng could ask for. Her third round opponent Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, ranked 25th in the world and an aggressive player shall present the hardest test for Zheng so far, requiring her to be stretched and pressure-proof from all angles.
Other than the China Open, Zheng’s schedule for the rest of the season will determine whether or not she makes it to the WTA Finals. It all comes down to each match and every point as she fights for one of the highly sought after eight to feature in this year-end championship.
Long-term Goals
Qinwen Zheng, though mentioning that her final goal is winning this season, clearly declares long-term ambitions for the sport: now 21 years old, she has already demonstrated that she is a Grand Slam final appearance and an Olympic gold medal under her belt. She’s positioned herself to be one of the women’s tennis players likely to dominate the sport for years to come.
Another layer to her career path is an ambition to inspire more Asian youths to take up tennis. Zheng might just be the one to alter the course of the future direction of the sport in China and Asia as she continues breaking barriers and making new history.
Conclusion: The Rise of the New Qinwen Zheng Tennis Mega Star
Qinwen Zheng’s journey from a young girl from Shiyan, China, to an Olympic champion and world No. 7 is pretty symbolic of her talent and hard work in living her ultimate dream. Of course, this China Open performance is another single chapter in what promises to be an illustrious career.
Zhongshu’s sensible personality and enthusiasm for the sport really work well for her as she goes about trying to cope with being China’s star hope. Whether Qinwen Zheng is battling on the court, dancing along to favorite songs over changeovers, or, more importantly, helping inspire the next generation of players, she is proving to be much more than a talented athlete in the making – she is cementing herself as tennis’s newest international ambassador.
With her sights set both on WTA Finals qualification and on securing future Grand Slams, the tennis world waits with bated breath for the next move from this new star. One thing is certain, though: Qinwen Zheng has arrived and is here to stay- her impact on the sport is far from over.
FAQ’s
Who is Qinwen Zheng?
Qinwen Zheng, a Chinese tennis player born in 2002, is known for her powerful groundstrokes and has reached a world ranking of No. 21
Who is Qinwen Zheng coach?
Qinwen Zheng’s current coach is Carlos Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a Spanish tennis coach who has also worked with players such as Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters.
How tall is Qinwen Zheng?
Qinwen Zheng height is 1.75 meters tall (5 feet 9 inches)