Zheng Qinwen made quite a confession to Chinese reporters in Beijing, telling them she “did not take some tournaments seriously” following her Australian Open success and also shared that she criticized her team for not providing her with the information on her WTA Finals qualification scenarios.
At the start of the season, the 21-year-old made her maiden Grand Slam final at Melbourne Park before Aryna Sabalenka ousted her in two sets to repeat as champion in Australia for a second consecutive year. In the months that followed, the Chinese tennis star didn’t do particularly well as she saw several of her campaigns at the WTA 1000 level finish very early.
However, she has since lifted her form, winning a WTA 250 tournament in Palermo – becoming an Olympic champion in Paris – and also reaching the US Open quarterfinal.
Currently, Zheng is ninth on the Race to the WTA Finals list with 3,070 points collected this year. And since Danielle Collins – who is eighth with 3,178 points but injured and skipping Beijing – the Paris Olympic gold medalist is still well-positioned to make the season-ending tournament in Riyadh.
“It’s really funny I made the final of the Australian Open but after that I didn’t take some tournaments seriously and didn’t get enough points. Judging from the points I have, it’s difficult for me to make the finals this year. I even complained to the team for not telling me earlier about the qualification of the WTA Finals. Now I feel the pressure but I cannot do anything. All I can do is give my best in the competitions,” the home favorite said in Beijing.
Zheng Qinwen© Zheng Qinwen/Instagram – Fair Use
Zheng highlights she will be on a mission in China
After being unimpressive in the WTA 1000 tournaments that took place earlier this year, the world No. 7 underlined that she is determined to do much better in Beijing and Wuhan. And one of the reasons behind that is the fact that she needs points to book her first WTA Finals ticket.
At the China Open, the fifth-seeded home player had a first-round bye and is set to face lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova in the second round.
“I did well in Australia. But after that, I wasn’t very steady. Now I find it a little bit challenging going into the Finals. Indeed, I need good points from these two tournaments. I was asking my team, Why do you make me so anxious right now? I know I’m feeling the pressure going into the Finals. I have to make sure that I play well here,” Zheng said.
After making all the headlines in China during her Australian Open run and drawing very positive attention to herself, the 21-year-old elevated her fame to a new level after impressively winning a gold medal in her first Olympic appearance. Asked if something felt different, the local star admitted that she noticed way more people knowing her now than before.
“Coming back to China I see more people recognizing me. When I was at the airport, people wouldn’t recognize me if they’re not interested in tennis. My fame was only within the tennis circle. But now when I go to a restaurant, people ask me for autographs. I feel the impact. I feel a sense of responsibility now here in China,” the two-time WTA champion explained.
Zheng Qinwen© Zheng Qinwen/Instagram – Fair Use
Zheng insists she is mentally and physically feeling very well
In the last 50 days, the Chinese tennis star appeared in only two tournaments – she lost in the Cincinnati round-of-16 before being a US Open quarterfinalist. And while players usually complain about being very tired and exhausted at this part of the year, the 21-year-old claims she is feeling as well as ever and also noted that she had the Aswian swing circled in her calendar.
“I can just tell you like this. After the US Open, the first thing that came to my mind was the China tour, the China Open, the Wuhan Open. People start to get tired at the end of the season. For me it’s different. I’m really motivated to come play in China, in front of my people. I know they’re going to support me. I feel right now I’m quite fresh for all those tournaments ’cause I have big expectations ’cause last year for the Asia Games, I was not able to prepare well in the China Open. But this year I had a good preparation. I really want to see how it goes,” Zheng explained.
Meanwhile, the world No. 7 is set to battle against 71st-ranked Rakhimova for the first time. Considering what she said in her presser, there is no doubt that Zheng will be looking to start with a statement win.