In Miami, Zheng Qinwen was seen enjoying a lighthearted moment, playing in an inflatable pool filled with yellow tennis balls, reminiscent of a children`s play area. Photographers captured these fun images of the Top 10 player at Hard Rock Stadium, a playful photoshoot highlighting her rising fame, especially in China.
Zheng`s 2024 season has been a rollercoaster. Entering Miami ranked No. 9 globally, her year included reaching the Australian Open final, winning an Olympic gold medal in Paris, and competing in the WTA Finals Riyadh championship match, propelling her to No. 5 in the WTA rankings.
On Thursday at the Miami Open, Zheng secured a second-round victory against Lauren Davis in straight sets. The ninth seed demonstrated her strong serve with 12 aces and effectively broke Davis`s serve four times. Her next opponent will be either Yulia Putintseva or Taylor Townsend.
Reflecting on her season, Zheng candidly acknowledged the mixed experiences of 2024. She described it as a year of “ups and downs,” filled with both positive and negative moments that provided valuable lessons.
Regarding the Riyadh final, she recognized it as a positive result but felt she could have performed better, particularly on crucial points. Despite these moments, she assessed her 2024 performance as “quite good” overall.
Zheng believes the lessons learned from these experiences will be crucial for her progress in 2025. She described reaching the Australian Open final as a double-edged sword, realizing the need for consistent focus at the highest level of professional tennis.
“After the Australian Open final, I struggled for a couple of months, losing motivation and not taking tournaments seriously,” Zheng admitted. She realized the importance of maintaining focus and dedication at all times.
A highlight of her year was the Paris Olympics, where she won the gold medal, defeating Angelique Kerber, Iga Swiatek, and Donna Vekic. She described the Olympic experience as “impressive and great.”
Zheng is now aiming to recapture that positive momentum in Miami. Her year started with a 1-3 record, but she rebounded with three wins at Indian Wells, including victories over Victoria Azarenka and Marta Kostyuk.
The demanding schedule following Riyadh, including media and marketing commitments, and a preseason elbow strain impacted her preparation for the Australian Open. Despite team suggestions to skip it, she participated but faced early losses. However, with elbow strengthening exercises, she regained form at Indian Wells and is now looking to build on that progress.
Reflecting on the end of last year, Zheng mentioned her desire to continue playing due to her strong performances. However, she acknowledged the necessity of physical well-being in tennis, emphasizing that consistent practice and dedication are crucial for success.
Her goal for this year is to maintain humility and professionalism, focusing on consistent effort week by week and match by match.
“It`s about dedication and constant focus in practice, regardless of results,” Zheng stated. She believes this approach will ultimately lead to consistent performance.
Rupert Caldwell