PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 17, 2023

Zheng Qinwen

Press Conference

ZHENG QINWEN/A. Parks

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Just talk us through the match today. How excited were you to get your first win here in Stuttgart?

ZHENG QINWEN: Yeah, that was my first tournament play here in Stuttgart. I'm very happy to playing here.

Opponent, she's little bit tough to beat because she has a really huge serve. I mean, that's difficult for return. I think she have the most fast serve in the tour for the moment.

Yeah, in all the match, I just break her one time in each set. That make the different. Yeah, that's it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Did you feel any kind of pressure today? You had to put more attention on your serve, trying to not get into the rally. Did you felt even more pressure?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, is always be more difficult to play against these kind of player because you know once you lose your serve, can be really dangerous. In all the match, didn't breaks me one time, I just break her two times, so that makes the difference.

Of course, I need to be really concentrate in her service game because when we have the opportunity, I have to take.

There's a couple times in the first set I got some opportunity in 30-Love, but I didn't take it, and I couldn't make the break. Once I make the break, I think that's the difference in this match.

Q. The WTA is going to return to China in the fall. What do you think of that? Regarding the case of Peng Shuai, are you in touch with her?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, actually I'm so happy finally the tournament in China will be back because I'm really excited start to play in front of my people. I really miss China because there is been long time I never have time to come back there.

Since the tournament start, I will have more time to go back to my hometown and meet all my family and to show my tennis over there.

I think that's was like really happy things for me to hear about it.

Q. In terms of the serve, you sounded like you were very impressed by Alycia Parks' serve. Is it just the speed or is there something special about her serve that makes it difficult?

ZHENG QINWEN: I will not say 'surprise' because I know she's playing like this. I lose against her one time last year on the grass court. So I know a bit how she's playing.

Yeah, she can make dangerous. Once her first serve gets in, is really difficult to return. But I was feel like comfortable. Once the shot gets into the rally, I have big opportunity there. But first it's always difficult to put the return inside, especially against her. She has a fast first serve and a fast second serve either.

Q. Coming back to Peng Shuai, everyone is wondering how she is. Are you in touch with her? Do you know how she's doing?

ZHENG QINWEN: Actually, I don't know how she is. I was never talk to her in my life. I'm just a beginner in WTA still. I just trying to focus on my tennis and enjoy to play in front of my people.

Q. You said on the court you wanted to play on the big court. It sounds like you probably will with you playing Iga in the next round. Can you talk about facing her for a third time and what it means. The last two matches you played against her, taking a set off of her, what information you take into this match?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think that gave me a lot of experience. First time when I meet her, she was No. 1 in the world, I was coming from nowhere. First time for me to play in that atmosphere.

I think now I get little bit more experience. I wish in the next match I can have good performance. I want to show my best tennis. You know, in tennis you never know what's going to happen. That's the beauty things of tennis.

Q. Facing Iga in the last two matches, the Roland Garros match was a little bit different because of what you were going through, but in San Diego the third set, a little bit of a letdown there. What is the key to winning a third set against Iga?

ZHENG QINWEN: Honestly, also San Diego is little bit tricky because I twist my ankle when I played the quallies there. I been through painful. Even though I won my first match, I still have pain in ankle. And after, I fight through the end, so I have to rest two weeks for my ankle. I think that's not the smart decision.

But the next time I start to got little bit pain injure, for my body, health, is better to know what you have to do. I have a regret for that match because after I have to retire from the 1000 match, which is more important.

But I think it's also good to fight until the end, of course, when your body is healthy. Seems like this time I'm good with everything. Let's go for it.

Q. I have to ask you about Peng Shuai once again. Are you talking with other tennis players about that case? Are you worried about her?

ZHENG QINWEN: Actually, no. No, in the tour I don't talk much. I basically just stay close by with my team.

But I think she's pretty well in China. Just have a normal life. But honestly I don't know how she is. I just focus more on myself, yeah.