Current location:entertainment >>
Rising Tennis Star Makes History, Aims to Return Stronger
entertainment4People have gathered around
IntroductionContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
Rising Tennis Star Makes History, Aims to Return Stronger
February 11, 2024
Rod Laver Arena once again witnessed a Chinese player reaching the Australian Open women's singles final. On January 25, Zheng Qinwen, 21, became the second Chinese woman tennis player to advance to a Grand Slam singles final. The last time a Chinese player stood on the Australian Open women's singles final stage was exactly a decade earlier. On January 25, 2014, Li Na, then 31, made history as the first Asian player to win the Australian Open singles competition. "Only winning the Grand Slam final meets my expectations. Without it, I will only think about the improvement that I have to make," says Zheng.
Ten years ago, when Li won the Australian Open, Zheng watched the match on television.
"Li is my idol. I will never forget her match at the Australian Open. It was her who planted the seeds of dreams in my heart," says Zheng. She says she has watched Li's match at least 10 times.
The magical timeline added a touch of legend to the decade-spanning "inheritance," as the two athletes, from Central China's Hubei Province, completed the symbolic "passing of the torch" during this year's Australian Open.
Zheng has been immersed in professional and international training since she was a young girl. She aligned her training system with international standards, and she set clear goals, which laid the foundation for her early success.
From a young age, Zheng has been known for her aggression on the court. Xie Chun, head coach of Wuhan's tennis team, notes Zheng has had a strong attacking inclination since she was 8 or 9 years old. During her training at a tennis school in the United States, Zheng earned the nickname "Fire."
Zheng eventually joined a tennis school in Beijing, where she was coached by Carlos Rodriguez for four years. Rodriguez had previously coached Li, and he helped Li win the 2014 Australian Open.
Between August 2020 and February 2022, Zheng participated in nearly 30 tournaments. She had very little time for rest during that period.
Within two years of transitioning to WTA (World Tennis Association) events, Zheng has secured tour championships, reached Grand Slam finals, and become the second player from the Chinese mainland to enter the world's top-10 tennis rankings. Remarkably, she has achieved all of this by the young age of 21.
Zheng Jianping, Zheng's father, says his daughter's most significant traits are "independence, confidence and self-discipline."
Says Zheng Jianping: "We have never set goals for Zheng Qinwen. We hope she works hard for the goals she sets for herself, rather than being driven by parental pressure."
During last year's Australian Open, Zheng Qinwen stated her bid to break into the top 10, only to subsequently suffer an early exit in the second round.
"At that time, I was just being confident about myself with a great sum of expectations that I was unable to handle properly," says Zheng Qinwen. "After a year-long effort, while experiencing all the ebbs and flows, I've developed a more settled mindset."
Although Zheng Qinwen had her Grand Slam dreams crushed in her first try, she proved herself to be competent, and she made continuous improvement.
She can take consolation that she cracked the top 10 in world rankings for the first time.
"I think I can learn more with the loss in the final of the Australian Open. I just hope, next time, I can come back as a better tennis player, and come back stronger," Zheng Qinwen says.
Photos from VCG
Sources: Xinhua and People's Daily Overseas Edition
(Women of China English Monthly February 2024)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- Pic Story of Cleaners at Glacier Park of Yulong...
- In Pics: Blooming Flowers at Palace Museum in...
Special Coverage
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Cultural Caravan news portal”。http://southkorea.cezaryphotography.com/article-42d199890.html
Related articles
Dortmund's Reus hopes to sign off in style
entertainmentThe announcement that striker Marco Reus is to leave the club this summer has triggered an emotional ...
Read moreNHL announces Bodyarmor as its new sports drink, replacing BioSteel
entertainmentNEW YORK (AP) — The NHL and NHL Players’ Association on Tuesday announced a multiyear agreement with ...
Read moreHome values rising in Detroit, especially for Black homeowners, study shows
entertainmentDETROIT (AP) — Home values in Detroit — especially for Black residents — have increased by billions ...
Read more
Popular articles
- Survivors of alleged abuse in Illinois youth detention facilities step forward
- NHL says it set a single
- Coal miners are getting new protections from silica dust linked to black lung disease
- Internet customers in western North Carolina to benefit from provider's $20M settlement
- Met Gala 2024: Rita Ora goes nude in a barely
- Myanmar junta attacks garrison in bid to rescue stranded soldiers — Radio Free Asia
Latest articles
Judge: Alabama groups can sue over threat of prosecution for helping with abortion travel
The 15 revolutionary tiny tweaks that can turbocharge your health
West Virginia transgender sports ban discriminates against teen athlete, appeals court says
Participant, film studio behind 'Spotlight,’ shutters after 20 years
'China is behind this': MPs lash out at Beijing over cyber
Deaf and mute teen is 'gang
LINKS
- Rivalries on tap with Barcelona
- Netflix adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley fuels tourism to tiny Italian town
- After Roe v Wade, alarms sound about emergency pregnancy care in U.S.
- After Roe v Wade, alarms sound about emergency pregnancy care in U.S.
- Prue Leith's recipe for seeing red... her husband's online shopping habit!
- AP Week in Pictures: Asia
- More human remains believed those of missing woman wash up on beach
- Scientists uncover missing link between junk food and cancer
- Teenager is charged with terrorism offenses in stabbings of bishop and priest at Sydney church
- Lenny Kravitz, 59, left Rita Moreno, 92, so giddy when they met that she 'nearly peed my britches'