CHINA OPEN

October 2, 2023

Zheng Qinwen

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/Zheng Qinwen

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Chinese.

Q. Congratulations on the gold medal. That was a tough match. Wasn't really your tennis. How are you feeling right now? What about your coach, the team adjustment, does it have an impact on your performance?

ZHENG QINWEN: Indeed, I wasn't playing very well. 30% of my tennis. The rhythm of the ball I wasn't really grasping. It's completely different from previous matches. I'm playing in the evening. In previous events, I was playing during the day.

It was only about me. It has nothing to do with the coach because I wasn't able to adjust to the rhythm. The opponent's serve was really powerful. That actually made me not able to adjust to the rhythm. The return of that powerful serve was really, really difficult for me. I wasn't able to play as well against such powerful serves.

I think I will take a break of two to three days, and back into practice. I think in the Asian Games, five days in a row, I was consuming a lot of energy.

Q. During the Asian Games, you said you've never been to Hainan, you really want to go. In Hainan there is a clay training center. After the China season, do you have any plans? Are you going to do the winter training in Hainan?

ZHENG QINWEN: We haven't planned that far ahead. I don't know where I will be in winter. A lot of things are uncertain, my coach and my team.

After the China season, I will have a big discussion with my team regarding where I will do winter training. Most likely it will not be in China because too many distractions in China, which is not really good for my winter training. If I'm overseas, I will be more focused on my practice. It might be a little bit boring, but I will focus on my practice.

Q. Are you going to Zhengzhou? What is your plan and any expectations?

ZHENG QINWEN: Of course, we'll be in Zhengzhou. I will take a break of two days, trying to recuperate, then going back to practice. I have higher expectations in Zhengzhou because I did not have enough time to prepare for the China Open. It was really hard to do my best. My opponent's serves were really powerful, forcing me not really being able to get back into the rhythm.

I hope I can do better in Zhengzhou.

Q. The first time playing in the main draw on the Diamond Court with so many people cheering for you, how did you feel?

ZHENG QINWEN: It's more like a professional match here in Beijing than in Hangzhou. More quiet, more professional. I felt a little bit vertical while I was playing. I hope that I can adjust a little bit. Probably it was because it was a night match.

I hope next year I can come here earlier so I have extra days for practice. I was very disappointed in my performance today. I think I could have done much better.

Q. You talked about your coach. In your future training plan, any expectations regarding the candidacy of the coach as well as your thoughts on the future plans?

ZHENG QINWEN: My thoughts are? Well, of course I have thoughts. It's quite challenging because it's still within the season. I would rely on myself.

This is a good time to challenge myself because I can really know how I can perform without a coach. I will learn to be independent. I will learn to deal with situations without a coach. I think this is a good test.

It will be not a long-term solution, but I think during the short-term it's a good challenge and good test.

Q. In the first press conference you said the Asian Games, your expectations was to get the gold medal. The Asian Games were held in China. You were the top seed. After getting the gold medal, you did not have enough time for adjustment. Physically you did not have enough energy. What about mentality? Did you feel relief of pressure?

ZHENG QINWEN: Of course. After getting the gold medal, number one, I did not perform well. Number two, indeed I felt the relief of pressure because the Asian Games was the most important event after the US Open because the Asian Games was representing the country.

Playing here, the match and the loss was only representing myself. For today I did not have enough time for preparation, so I think what I will focus is on more abundant preparation for Zhengzhou. I will have higher goals for Zhengzhou.

Q. In the previous press conference you said that you are looking for a Chinese hitting partner. Did you know that the hitting partner you were hitting with is well-known in the app of the Little Red Book?

ZHENG QINWEN: I actually don't know he's that well-known in Little Red Book. I never actually saw him on the Little Red Book.

Tomorrow I would have to discuss with my team regarding the choices. I just finished a match. I haven't done a review with my coach yet. I think I will be in a better position to answer this question when I'm in Zhengzhou.