WATCH: Zheng Qinwen's epic Nike advertisement resurfaces after her 2024 Paris Olympics gold triumph
Before beginning her campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Zheng Qinwen filmed a commercial with Nike. It recently resurfaced following her gold medal triumph at the quadrennial event, with the 21-year-old defeating Croatia's Donna Vekic in the summit clash.
Zheng dominated her opponent from the outset, breaking early to go 3-0 up, and eventually winning the set 6-2. She maintained dominance in the second set, winning 6-3 and securing the match. By doing so, Zheng became the first singles player from China to clinch an Olympic gold. Her win also marked China's fourth tennis medal at the Olympics.
Following Zheng Qinwen's emphatic win at Court Philippe-Chatrier, a Nike commercial featuring her resurfaced, where she could be seen practicing on a clay court. Zheng also shares a motivational statement in the video.
“Should I look happy when I’m not? Should I smile when I lose? If I don’t hate being second, how will I ever be first?,” Zheng said.
Watch the video shared by The Tennis Letter on X below:
Nike later celebrated Zheng's gold medal triumph on X.
"No further questions.Qinwen Zheng silenced doubt today with her first @Olympics gold," they wrote.
Zheng Qinwen has been associated with the American sportswear giant Nike since 2016. Additionally, she has partnerships with McDonald’s, Gatorade, and renowned sporting goods manufacturer Wilson.
"I broke through my limits" - Zheng Qinwen after winning the gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics
In her post-match interview, Zheng Qinwen stated that despite her intense nerves, she was eager to win the summit clash at the Court Philippe-Chatrier. However, she acknowledged that effort alone doesn't always guarantee results.
“The last point I was really nervous. My hand was shaking actually. Every match when I go to the bathroom, my body is shaking. I never felt so hungry like this to win a match. I could give everything I can, but I know tennis doesn’t work like this. It’s not like you give everything and get the results all the time," Zheng said.
The 21-year-old added that she was happy to break through her limits and that her Paris Olympics campaign will serve as a motivational reminder for future challenges.
"I feel super proud of myself that this time I beat the pressure. I beat my own limit. I didn’t know before I was able to go through five matches in a row. Especially seven hours in two days. I feel here in this tournament, I broke through my limits. In the future it doesn’t matter how far down I am, I’ll remember this moment and it will cheer me up," she added.
Zheng Qinwen's other notable performances include her Australian Open campaign earlier this year, where she reached the final, and her win at the Palermo Ladies Open last month by defeating Karolina Muchova in the final.