"I'll forget what I have achieved in Olympics" - Zheng Qinwen looks forward to her parents' presence and support as she shifts focus to China Open
Zheng Qinwen is looking forward to competing in her home tournament, the China Open. The Paris Olympics gold medalist, who said that her parents would be attending her matches, also mentioned that wanted to invite Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei to the event.
Qinwen has been enjoying the best season of her career, having won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. She also reached the final of the 2024 Australian Open and defended her title in Palermo. The 21-year-old also broke into the Top 10 of the WTA rankings and has steadily climbed her way up.
After taking some time off to recharge following the North American hard-court swing, Qinwen is set to be back in action at the 2024 China Open. While speaking to the media ahead of the event, she was asked if her family would be attending her matches to cheer her on.
Zheng Qinwen said that her parents would be attending her matches. Interestingly, she had earlier commented how her father had surprised her at the airport tarmac on her return to China after her gold medal win at the Olympics.
She also mentioned how she had been meaning to invite Zhang Yufei to one of her matches. Yufei, who is a swimmer, is the most decorated Chinese athlete in Olympic history with 10 medals to her name.
"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 my match."
The 21-year-old added that she won't be showing her medal off in front of the home crowd since she wants to focus on the task at hand.
"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."
"I don't consider that like big pressure, I will consider it like big support" - Zheng Qinwen on playing in front of her home crowd in China
Zheng Qinwen was also asked if she felt any pressure playing in the spotlight in front of her home crowd at the China Open. She said that she loves receiving support from the crowd and mentioned that she tries to give her best in order to play in front of them again the next day to make them happy.
"I think I don't consider that like big pressure. I will consider it like big support. Especially when I am feeling down, I see all the people's support on me," Zheng Qinwen said.
"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."
The World No. 7 said that her experience of playing in China was very different than the rest of the world in that she was confident that the majority of the crowd would cheer for her in China.
"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 are going to support on me. It is a big confidence. There's also a big energy there when I'm playing on court."
Zheng Qinwen, seeded fifth, will receive a bye in the opening round of the 2024 China Open. She will play either Kamilla Rakhimova or Kimberly Birrell in the second round.
The China Open will also feature Aryna Sabalenka, Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and others