In the 11 days since the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Zheng Qinwen has been zipping around the globe.
After winning her country’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s tennis and helping China tie the U.S. for the most gold medals at the Paris Games (40), Zheng headed to Cincinnati for a hard-court tune-up, fell ill, played four sets, then flew to China. In Beijing, she had a very brief meeting with her father on the airport tarmac, then joined other Chinese Olympians to meet president Xi Jinping. That was Tuesday.
Four days later, in New York, Zheng, 21, faced the media and answered questions about her crazy year and how the US Open’s No. 7 seed prepared for her third appearance at Flushing Meadows. On Monday, Zheng is scheduled to meet 22-year-old American wild card Amanda Anisimova on Louis Armstrong Stadium for their first-round match.
Whew!
Zheng's breakthrough year really began back in January, at the Australian Open, where she reached the final but lost to Aryna Sabalenka in two sets.
“I had a lot of ups and downs after Australia, because I lost some motivations,” Zheng said. In that final, she said she played with a lot of nerves, heavy legs, and felt she could only perform at 50% of her potential.
The Olympics, however, were a different story.
In Paris, Zheng drew inspiration from another Chinese Olympic hero: the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 110-meter hurdles, Liu Xiang.
Even though she was only a year old when Liu cruised to Olympic glory, “Everybody knows him in China,” she said, “Everybody!
“During the time I was in Olympic Games, I was watching his video every day at least five times to get inspired. I got so much inspired. In that moment, I think, ‘If he can do it at 21 years old and this year I'm also 21 years old, why not me?’ Maybe that's why I have so much energy on court."
At the Games, Zheng had an incredible run. She defeated Sara Errani of Italy in the first round. Later, she took down American Emma Navarro after saving a match point in the second set. She then defeated Angelique Kerber of Germany, the former US Open champ who retired after the Games, despite trailing 1-4 in the third.
In the semifinals, Zheng beat Iga Swiatek of Poland for the first time after six head-to-head losses, bouncing the world No. 1 in straight sets after trailing 0-4 in the second set. Then, in the gold-medal match, Zheng defeated Donna Vekic of Croatia, 6-2, 6-3.
“After I won Olympic gold medal,” Zheng said, “the first thing I told myself is: I want to keep the motivation on. I don't want to let myself slip again. I really want to improve in my mental side, [and figure out] how to maintain the level when you become a champion to keep winning, winning, winning, instead of getting relaxed and let yourself lose easy match.
“If I'm able to do that, I think I will really break through some wall[s] that I have for myself. I'm just trying to work really hard on my mental side. I wish this time [in New York] I can perform as well,” she said.
But when Zheng tried to adapt from the clay in Paris to hard courts of Cincinnati, she lost in the second round.
In general, she said, “I don't think I have too much problem transition clay to hard. I just think maybe the time is not enough. I was feeling really sick after I arrived in Cincinnati. I was maybe four days without practicing and two days with fever. Of course if you don't practice, the performance can't be well. If you really put hours on court, I think the transition will be fine.”
But the biggest surprise of the past few months, Zheng says, was when she left Cincinnati and landed in China to meet President Xi.
“Actually I saw my parents in that moment. They are so happy to see me. My father is just standing outside of the airplane. The are able to come there and give me flowers.
“[It was] very short, less than 48 hours. But I feel peace when I'm with them. It was a warm family time.
“My father start to [give] me some new target [and goals] again, which I have already for myself,” she said.
Although she didn’t publicly reveal them on Friday, another final of a Slam would be a perfect fit.
