CHINA OPEN

October 3, 2024

Zhang Shuai

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/ZHANG SHUAI

6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Zhang Shuai, just talk us through your thoughts on the match, overall looking back at all the great matches you've had here at China Open this year.

ZHANG SHUAI: Yeah, today was great match. Paula play so well. Especially her serve, I have no idea. Over 190 a lot of times. Yeah, I mean, I'm so respected to her because I know last two years how tough for her. We both. I'm happy to see her back to the top.

Step by step I know everything because I'm also at tough moment last one years. Even more, so... I mean, yeah, I try to follow her step by step back to the top.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. You've seen a lot of success in doubles play. What are your plans for singles play moving forwards?

ZHANG SHUAI: Oh, yeah, before my plan is play more doubles, focus on doubles. But now I think I have to change the plan, yeah (smiling).

Paula tell me I have to play. Don't retire. Yeah, a lot player and coach tell me I'm play so good still, top level.

I'm happy my coach could not see 600 ranking anymore. So now it's 200 (smiling). Yeah, I try my best in Wuhan, the last couple tournament in China. Yeah, let's see how far I can go.

Q. With Wuhan next week, then you'll finish the season at the China tournaments, what is your goal kind of after all of that is done? Would you with singles play ITFs to try to get your ranking up or would you rely on qualifying, wild cards? Have you and your coach talked about that for next year?

ZHANG SHUAI: Yeah, so far we didn't talking so much about the schedule after the Chinese season because my coach got the fever. He said, Oh, don't talking to me. Even we can't shake hand. He already back to the room.

I mean, I'm still waiting for the Ningbo, Guangzhou, if I can get the wild card, give me a chance to show my best tennis or not.

If not I will play some doubles. I will play with Yang Zhaoxuan. She's also tough moment after one year. Asian Games last year, she got injury, big injury, for her knee. Try to helping her get more confident winning, the feeling.

Try to help more Chinese younger player to be back. I have maybe little bit more experience for this. Things last year, after six months off, when I back to the court, is really tough. Also doubles, we need someone to help. I try my best to do something for the young player.

After, yeah, let's see. Maybe play some ITF tournament. But I have to make sure I can get in first. But right now ranking, yeah, little bit better than 600. I don't think 600 I can get in any tournament. I don't mind even I play start from quallies. I can get more points.

I'm really looking forward for the next year. I have some plan for the doubles. I play with Kiki. We try our best to first singles, try to back to the top 100, then try to win some Grand Slam or some big tournament.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Chinese.

Q. You've been encouraging those with dreams. You also talk about your own dreams. What is your ultimate dream that has been inspiring you so far?

ZHANG SHUAI: Before this year, my goal was the Olympics, of course, the Paris Olympics. For every athlete in each category, it has been to be the athlete's dream. I was really honored to represent China, to be in the Olympics.

Regrettably I lost in the first round. In the past three Olympics, I wasn't able to achieve my goals. It will be another four years until the next Olympics. I would have to raise another dream, which is to have better performances in Grand Slams.

After the Tokyo Olympics, I wasn't able to be in it. I was in the US Open, won a championship. This year I'm really happy to be a finalist in the US Open.

My personal goal is very clear: I need to be very specific in my goal in order to work harder, be it doubles or mixed doubles. A Grand Slam would be my dream.

Another thing is singles. First goal is to be in the top 200, qualifications for the Grand Slams, to play in the lower-level tournaments. The points would be as high as in this one. I have to go step by step.

No matter what tournament I play in, I always try my best in each match. No matter where I am, I always give 100%.

Next year I will try to play as many singles as well as doubles matches. After the losing streak, I was asking myself as well as my team and my coach if I want to continue my professional career. Should I continue as a doubles player? I do not want that. That is why in daily training I work very hard so that I can up my level in the singles.

Q. In previous interviews, you said that you are playing better than you did when you were in your 20s, a better performance. Are you talking about better experience or better mentality?

ZHANG SHUAI: To me I think in my life there were so many lessons in my tennis career. There are so many times I wanted to give up. At this age, should I choose a different lifestyle. When I was young, I wanted to be like a normal student, going to college, university. There were no other options.

Before the Tokyo Olympics, I tried to apply for a college-level course in the Beijing Sports University. I got accepted, but then I was informed that I wasn't accepted eventually. My scores were not good enough to be in that class. To them, a Grand Slam champion was not considered to be a world champion. That was very surprising to me. So I didn't have the chance to pursue a master's degree. I continued for another three years.

Another four years, all the way till 2023, then I was injured. I wanted to do something else. I went to Tsinghua University, a dream school for a lot of people. They were recruiting tennis coaches. A lot of people were encouraging me to apply for this program, to be a tennis coach in the Tsinghua University. I submitted my CV.

The first question they asked me is whether I have the residential permit of Beijing. No, I did not have it. I thought a university teacher, the thing they want to look at is your expertise, it's your experience, it's not to look at a residential permit.

Be it my experience, my professional expertise, of course I will be qualified to be a tennis coach in this school, but I wasn't qualified. I did not have any other options. I had to continue my path on the tour.

So my life has been unusual compared to other players. They were probably a coach on the provincial team at a very young age. They were playing, but they were also coaches on the provincial teams. When they retired, they could go back to the coaching position on the provincial teams.

I was never like that. I could only work hard. Without these achievements, I don't know what my future would look like. People ask me what I want to do after I retire. I don't know. I had no idea.

In the past 35 years, I do not have a residential permit in Beijing. Second requirement, they wanted to look at my academic credential. I have a bachelor's degree. A lot of those positions require a master's degree or a PhD program. I wasn't even qualified to go a tennis coach.

I do not know what I can do after I retire. I think the only thing left for me is to continue to be on the tour, to be a professional tennis player. Other than that, what can I do? I am not accepted, recognized by these professional positions. The only thing that can recognize me is the WTA Tour.

I could only choose to work harder on this tour. I think this kind of echoes a lot of opinions of the tennis players. We are puzzled. What can we do after we retire? We cannot be reporters. Once we reach a certain age, we need to have other options in terms of a career choice. What can we do? I keep asking myself.

My life, my experience forced me into this position. I could only play well. To my surprise, I could play at this level in this tournament.

I thank those schools for not accepting me. I thank those schools for not accepting me.

Q. Badosa said something after the match. She told you not to retire. What are your comments on that?

ZHANG SHUAI: Countless times those players and coaches said that to me. I appreciate that. I appreciate that kind of encouragement, especially after this match, a very tough match.

These girls are really good girls. They are kind, warmhearted. We did not exchange any words before the match. After the match, we were very friendly to each other with great wishes.

I will listen to them because they are the professionals here. You always have to listen to the experts no matter where you work. The coaches, the players are the experts of this field. I will listen to the experts. I will continue.