CHINA OPEN

September 24, 2024

Zheng Qinwen

Press Conference

An interview with:

ZHENG QINWEN

THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to China Open. Talk about how you're feeling ahead of the tournament.

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, I feel really good here. Especially I come many days before to have a good preparation here in China Open. Everything right now seems like it's going well.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. How important for you playing in Beijing, Wuhan, is it with the WTA Finals kind of looming, qualifications and things like that? How much of that is in your mind as you play these events?

ZHENG QINWEN: I can just tell you like this. After US Open, first thing come in my mind is the China tour, China Open, Wuhan Open.

People start to get tired at the end of the season. For me it's different. I'm really motivated to come play in China, in front of my people. I know they're going to support me.

I feel right now I'm quite fresh for all those tournament 'cause I have a big expectations 'cause last year for the Asia Games, I was not able to prepare well in the China Open. But this year I had a good preparation. I really wants to see how it goes.

Q. Obviously you played very well in China in the past. There's also a lot of pressure on you and expectation and spotlight. What is the key for you? Why do you think you are able to manage that well when you are playing in China and for China?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think I don't consider that like big pressure. I will consider it like big support. Especially when I feeling down, I see all the people supports on me.

In that moment I'm thinking, like, if I lost, the day after they will not come to see me anymore. I going to try my best to won the match. The day after they will still be happy to see me again.

It is quite different to play in China compared to rest of the world. I know basically all of them, going to be 95% of the crowd, they going to support on me. Is a big confidence. Is also a big energy there when I'm playing on court.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Chinese.

Q. The Asia Swing right now, do you feel the enthusiasm from Chinese fans? In the China Open you will see a lot of support from the Chinese fans. It might push you to play better, but also it might have kind of a distraction, pressure for you. As of now, how are you going to adapt to that on-site? How do you actually translate the support to a greater momentum? Do you have experiences to share with us?

ZHENG QINWEN: I feel that fans' support is a great source of energy. I think fan support is a great momentum for me because it's very positive for me because nobody likes to play on an away ground. Home court is a great advantage, which brings you energy. This energy will raise your level.

It really depends. To me it's not pressure, it's momentum. I think I have overcome that kind of pressure in the first year of my professional career. Now I am really familiar with that.

Q. In the draw, you're very likely to meet Sabalenka in the semifinals. Two meetings this year so far. If you meet again, how would you prepare compared to the two previous meetings?

ZHENG QINWEN: This is too early to think about it. Before the semifinals, there's so many matches. As a top player, as a good player, I want to focus on my next match instead of focusing on the quarterfinals and semifinals. I just want to focus on my training, my next round.

If I'm in the quarterfinals and semifinals, ask me this question again (smiling).

Q. At the Paris Olympics you won a gold medal. After the US Open, you are on home soil. Any special feelings? Any expectations for the WTA Finals?

ZHENG QINWEN: Coming back to China I see more people recognizing me. When I was at the airport, people wouldn't recognize me if they're not interested in tennis. My fame was only within the tennis circle. But now when I go to a restaurant, people ask me for autographs. I feel the impact. I feel a sense of responsibility now here in China.

I did well in Australia. But after that, I wasn't very steady. Now I find it a little bit challenging going into the Finals. Indeed, I need good points from these two tournaments.

I was asking my team, Why do you make me so anxious right now? I know I'm feeling the pressure going into the Finals. I have to make sure that I play well here.

Q. You came here early to prepare for the China Open. I see your two hitting partners, including your team. Anything new they're bringing to you compared to the US Open?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, recently I've been training with Chinese hitting partners. It was very comfortable because these two are doing very well in the training sessions. I am this kind of person. If I am doing the training well, I feel that I'm having a really good day. If I'm not focused on the training, then I think that I'm wasting the time, I'm not meeting expectations. That will make me very unhappy.

A good training will change my emotion, my mind for the whole day. I think for the China season, I've been preparing very well compared to the US Open. I need more practice to get me adjusted.

Q. Coming back to China, your family, your friends, are they coming to watch your match? You have a lot of support here. You talked about your father was worried that you might lose your gold medal somewhere in a foreign country. Are you planning to show your gold medal here?

ZHENG QINWEN: Indeed, my parents will come here to the China Open this year. A long time ago I said I might invite Zhang Yufei to come and watch me match. Zhang Yufei is a Chinese swimmer.

I will not show you the gold medal here because it's been a while. I'm not going to take my gold medal everywhere I go. I want to focus on the China Open, the tournament. I will forget what I have achieved in the Olympics because I have to be grounded in each match.