AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 15, 2025

Zheng Qinwen

Press Conference

L. SIEGEMUND/Z. Qinwen

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Qinwen, obviously not the result you wanted today. Give us your thoughts on the match.

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, I think not much to say 'cause I try what I can do during this match. I feel maybe today is not my day. There's a lot of details in the important points. I didn't do the right choice. That's all I can say, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Why did you feel you couldn't bring your best tennis today?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, I have lot of chance to break her in the first set, but in that moment maybe my concentration is not there. Always I give a easy mistake in that moment.

Was a bit tricky for me in the first set also, a tricky way to loss, because I feel I didn't performance good enough. In the same time, I felt she's playing really good today.

Yeah, it's tennis. Nothing more.

Q. Were you frustrated with the code violation in the second set? Did you think the time clock needed to be a bit more visible so you could see it better?

ZHENG QINWEN: Yes, 'cause with my angle, the time was on the side, so I couldn't see. If I bounce the ball, I couldn't catch the time. So I don't know if I'm late or I'm early.

I was so surprised to get that second serve because never happen to me that before. Because if the time was directly in my vision zone, like, straightaway I will see it, but...

Yeah, obviously that one really distract me from the match. Yeah, also is first time I have this situation about time violation. I think this is my fourth year in the tour, and never happen that to me.

Q. Is there anything you think could have been changed with the clock to make you feel better about the situation?

ZHENG QINWEN: About the clock?

Q. Yes. Like moving it or placing it in a different spot?

ZHENG QINWEN: Yeah, it's better straightaway to the wall instead of on the side. But, I mean, I get disturb from that one, but I don't lose the match for that, yeah.

Q. Did the weather play a part in maybe you're not timing the ball as well as you like to? Your form earlier in the day before you get on the court, do you know whether you're playing well or not playing well?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, like I said before is tricky. I had lot of chance, a lot of chance in the first set to break her. I just give too much unforce error in the first set. Also in the tiebreak I felt I didn't give that extra energy, extra strength.

When arrive in the second set, I mean, in that moment the time violation distract me. I felt today was generally difficult for me, yeah.

Q. I'm going through the stats for the match. Nothing much to separate apart from the fact you were uncomfortable on the net. Do you think you can improve your net game a little bit?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think makes sense 'cause she made lot of passing to me there. I think I didn't make the right choices in the approach. I didn't look where she move.

But yes, I would say in the future I would like to improve my net game.

Q. Did you consider playing a tournament before this, or would you have liked to have played something between the WTA Finals and now? Would that have helped you? Also, I'm wondering whether it matters to you to play that early in the day. Did that affect you at all?

ZHENG QINWEN: No. For me there is no chance to play a tournament before Australia Open this year because the time was so rush. I got some small issues after the WTA Finals.

I was discuss with my team if we have to come to the Australian Open or no. I'm the one who's forcing. My team say, No, I got come here and trying to play a slam.

So that's the tricky situation. This year there was no chance for me to play tournament before Australia Open because there's some issues in my body didn't solve yet.

Q. Playing at the start of the day...

ZHENG QINWEN: What?

Q. Playing the first match of the day compared to later in the day, did it affect you?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, I think at this stage shouldn't affect me, I would say, yeah.