Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen has secured her spot at the upcoming 2024 Paris Summer Olympics after clinching the gold medal at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province in 2023.
Rising rapidly in the international tennis scene over the past two years, Zheng achieved her career-best performance at a Grand Slam tournament when she reached the women’s singles final at this year’s Australian Open in January. Despite becoming only the second player from the Chinese mainland to reach a Grand Slam singles final, Zheng was not entirely satisfied with her achievement, as she fell to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the title match.
“It’s a pity that I failed to achieve what I wanted on a court like this,” Zheng told the China Media Group. “But I have gained a lot of experience from it. Now I know better how to train to beat opponents like this in the future.”
Comparisons with China’s retired two-time Grand Slam singles champion Li Na have been inevitable, but Zheng is determined to forge her own path. “I think everyone has their own path of growth, so it’s unnecessary to call anybody ‘the next whoever,'” she said. “We should just be the best of ourselves because we are all unique.”
Following her success at the Australian Open, Zheng faced challenges in the subsequent Grand Slam tournaments. She was eliminated by Elina Avanesyan of Russia in the third round of the French Open and suffered a first-round exit at Wimbledon against Lulu Sun of New Zealand. However, these setbacks have only strengthened her resolve.
“The setbacks didn’t take away my confidence,” Zheng asserted. With the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon, she is eager to return to the clay courts of Roland Garros representing her country. “I do have expectations because I will be playing for my country instead of myself,” Zheng told CMG. “I want to participate in the Paris Olympics in my best form and do my best in preparation.”
As Zheng continues to hone her skills and gain experience on the international stage, she embodies the spirit of perseverance and dedication. Her journey reflects not only personal ambition but also the hopes of a nation eager to see its athletes succeed on the world stage.
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Chinese tennis ace Zheng Qinwen backs off from no difficulty
cgtn.com
