CHINA OPEN

October 3, 2024

Zheng Qinwen

Press Conference

ZHENG QINWEN/A. Anisimova

3-6, 6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Zheng Qinwen, congratulations. Into the quarterfinals here at the China Open for the first time. Give us your overall thoughts on your match tonight.

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, I think the match today is difficult. Especially Anisimova, she's a really good player. Like I always said, she hit the ball fast. She create me some troubles in the first set.

But generally I'm happy to find this victory and come first time in quarterfinal in China Open.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. In terms of the adjustments that you had to make after the first set, did it help that you had just played her in New York? Specifically what do you think you did better in the second and third set?

ZHENG QINWEN: Obviously is help. I play against her last time. I have structure in my head about her game style.

But I feel at beginning of the match I'm just enter a little bit slow, especially at 40-15 in her service game. I didn't get my chance there. I know if I trying to be consistent and play my game, I will get there. With her you never know. Sometimes she's able to hit a big shot from everywhere.

I'm really happy just to get the victory today and arrive first time quarterfinals.

Q. You said at the end of the match it was really hard for you to close out the match. How were you able to do that? How were you able to battle through all the deuces at the end of the match and finish it?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think at the end the score is quite bit different, 5-2 for me. I think she play without pressure. Every shot she hit just went inside. I feel she reaction faster in the end of the game.

There is some troubles because I know if I have doubt there, I will lose my service game. In that moment I say, Okay, even I lost, I will fight for return game or another service game.

Yes, I feel I played great there in the last game, even I had some tough moment. I serve great, I had great reaction. I just feel generally my third set performance is better than first sets.

THE MODERATOR: Chinese questions.

Q. Your opponent is 17-year-old Andreeva. What are your preparations for the next round? What are your tactics going into the next round?

ZHENG QINWEN: Facing a new player, a young player, they always have motivation. They want to be aggressive against top-ranked players. She's still 17 years old. I do not know much about her style. I might tomorrow, if available, look into her style.

When on court, I will focus on myself 100%. I will not be affected by a young girl. I will treat her as a normal opponent because into the quarterfinals, every opponent is tough.

Q. You said that the Chinese people don't have the habit of sleeping late, but it's different from tennis people. Have you had experiences like this in night matches, extremely late matches?

ZHENG QINWEN: Yes, I was in the US Open, and that match ended even later. I think the match before me was a five-setter. It was extremely late. I had to wait for a long time.

Competing at midnight, I still have experience. Unlike the first year on the tour, I wasn't adapted to these kind of late-night matches. I have experience now. I had enough time to warm up.

Q. During the US Open, you were involved in several turnaround matches. During the Olympics, you were more resilient. In situations like this, how did you adjust yourself to engineer a turnaround?

ZHENG QINWEN: When I was down, I would just focus point by point. When I lost the first set, it was only a couple of points. In the second set, I made some changes. I was more consistent, with better serves, a higher percentage. It was lower in the first set. It was not so good in the returns. I got more excited in the second and third sets.