AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 12, 2025

Zheng Qinwen

Press Conference

ZHENG QINWEN/A. Todoni

7-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations and welcome back. Your thoughts on a strong first-round performance?

ZHENG QINWEN: Yeah, it is tough match today. I think the opponent, she's playing really good. I'm just happy to get through the first round, then playing not my best tennis. I'm just happy to win this match.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.

Q. The crowd was supporting you today. What does it mean to play with so much support from Chinese fans here in Melbourne?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think I feel like I'm always play like in China. Feels home, you know, because lot of crowd supporting to me. I feel like I can get a lot of energy from them, especially when she get the set point, and also we have a tough first-set fight.

I feel always I'm always concentration. I didn't drop my focus. Okay, even I was 40-Love in my service game, but I can say I didn't drop my focus.

I just love to play in front of Australian Open crowd.

Q. Does it feel different coming back to Rod Laver Arena where your last match there was a Grand Slam final? What are your emotions? I know you were playing some exhibitions and stuff last week, but was it different playing a match with that experience?

ZHENG QINWEN: Oh, yeah, it's huge difference. Nothing to compare real match and exhibition. I was here put all my focus saying, C'mon. In the tight moments, you will hear me say, 'C'mon', in the exhibition matches. This is not going to happen. Even in the practice matches I will never say, 'C'mon' to the opponent. Only in the real matches. I was there, really concentrate.

Yes, 'cause last year I know people say I had a lot of three-set matches. So I wish this year I can go through the match just in two sets.

Q. You've spoken before about you're not interested in having friends on the tour. What do you think about handshakes at the end of matches? Do you mind doing those? Do you think they're a bit of a strange thing?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, I always give a handshake to my opponent because I feel that's the basic respect. Doesn't matter if I win or I lost, I always give a handshake.

But not always I give a handshake with a smiley face. This I know myself. Usually I don't often give a hug to my opponent as well, because I feel that is not necessary for me.

I come just here for play a match. If I lost, I will give you just a basic respect and that's it. That's why you will not see me lose one match with a happy face to the opponent. If you saw that on me, that is very strange, which means I don't care about that match on that day (laughter).

Q. The one with Sabalenka, the WTA Finals, was it you forgot that the match finished? You sort of walked off.

ZHENG QINWEN: Oh, yeah, I remember that moment 'cause I thought the match is finish. I messed up the score. That's why.

Q. How nervous did you feel today when you came out onto the court?

ZHENG QINWEN: Actually I feel really nervous. I start to feel nervous already since yesterday 'cause I felt special emotion for Australian Open. I feel it's one of the biggest tournament. I really like it here.

But when I feel nervous, actually I play better. I'm more concentrate. I made less unforced error mistake. But I would say when I enter to 5-3, I was thinking that moment the nervous doesn't make me play my best tennis out there.

Q. Do you feel like when you are at tournaments, even if it's a Grand Slam or WTA tournament, that it feels quieter for you, you can just focus on the work and do your job as opposed to maybe when you're home and you're training but also having to balance other things? Other players have said before that sometimes the tennis court is the most peaceful place that they have sometimes.

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, for me is different. I feel tennis court is like one place, it's my dream. It's like where I want to become better.

But also I can find my peaceful outside of the tennis court. I love reading, I love singing. I feel every time when I sing, I am in that flow also, same like in the tennis court. When I am reading or writing, it is the same things.

So I can also find my peaceful outside of the tennis court.