Zheng Qinwen cried.
In the women’s singles semifinals of the 2024 China Open on the evening of October 5, Zheng suffered a fall while chasing down a ball in the sixth game of the first set. She sustained an injury to her hand and ultimately lost to Czech star and former French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova with scores of 3-6, 4-6, falling short of reaching the finals.
Although she didn’t make history this time, the sight of Zheng intently tracking the ball, swinging her racket, and then weeping with her face buried in her hands after the fall was deeply moving. During a medical timeout, she sat on the sidelines with red-rimmed eyes and after taking painkillers, she returned to the court, fighting until the very last moment.
After the match, Zheng reflected on her performance, stating that due to a recent cold and lack of adequate rest, her physical and mental states were not at their peak. “I know I can do better,” she admitted.
Earlier this year at the Paris Olympics, Zheng battled German player Angelique Kerber for over three hours, completing an incredible comeback to reach the semifinals. At the moment her decisive shot landed, she tossed her racket aside and lay on the court, wiping away tears with her wristband when she got up. She later described that match as the toughest of her career, noting, “I was determined not to give up on any point, because tennis is a sport where there’s always a chance to win.”
From her ecstatic tears after pushing her limits in Paris to the bittersweet sorrow following her injury at the China Open, the meaning behind Zheng’s tears has evolved over just a couple of months.
Before the Olympics, Zheng faced consecutive defeats at the French and Wimbledon championships. “The most profound lesson I’ve learned is the necessity of patience. While I have great power, I’ve realized the importance of knowing when to use it. The best players aren’t always the strongest or the fastest. Tennis is about making the right choices at the right times and not striving for perfection.”
Though known for her powerful serve, Zheng’s first-serve percentage has been low, and she has struggled in receiving. Since the Olympics, however, she has showcased a dynamic range of skills in returning serves and handling net play.
At the Paris Olympics, she competed in high temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, overcoming opponents in three-set matches over two days to secure Asia’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s tennis singles. Following this, she saw further success at the US Open, where she once again reversed two matches, battling late into the night before achieving her best result there.
At the China Open held at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Zheng also managed to reverse her fortunes in night matches against Amanda Anisimova and Anastasia Gasanova. Her resilience has been a hallmark of her game during the year’s second half.
“When I step onto the court now, I sometimes know I’m not at my best. The key is to find ways to win rather than blame myself for not being in peak form. In the past, my losses affected my performance because I focused too much on my technical issues. Now, I concentrate on each point,” she expressed. Zheng believes that even the highest-level athletes rarely maintain perfection throughout the year, and her ability to adjust and secure wins despite being below her best has marked her development.
This tournament has been significant for Zheng, as she reached the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career. Since the China Open was raised to a 1000-level event in 2009, Zheng has become the third local player, after Li Na and Wang Qiang, to reach the women’s singles semifinals. However, with this semifinal exit, she remains one step away from qualifying for the year-end championships.
“Since the Australian Open, my performance has been a bit unstable. I feel a sense of urgency to qualify for the finals. Moving forward, I need to ensure I play well,” Zheng analyzed, acknowledging that she struggles to maintain composure after achieving success, only to regain focus after facing setbacks. She aims to set aside the pressure of being an Olympic champion and maintain a calm, steady mindset.
Zheng views her missed opportunity at the China Open as a source of motivation. Next up, she plans to compete in the Wuhan Open.
“I’m going to take it one match at a time, ensuring my body and mind are ready to showcase my best,” Zheng concluded.
