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Qinwen Zheng - US Open 2024
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Qinwen Zheng admits that she ‘didn’t take some tournaments seriously’


Qinwen Zheng has confessed that she was not aware of the qualification to the WTA Finals, admitting that she even ‘didn’t take some tournament seriously’ earlier this year.

Zheng is set to play in China this week for the first time since winning gold at the Paris Olympics, but claims that she is relishing the extra attention thanks to her raised status.

“I think I don’t consider that like big pressure. I will consider it like big support,” Zheng told press in Beijing. “Especially when I am feeling down, I see all the people’s support on me. It is quite different to play in China compared to the rest of the world.

“I know basically all of them, going to be 95 percent of the crowd, they are going to support me. It is a big confidence [boost]. There’s also a big energy there when I’m playing on court.”

Although the Olympic Games no longer provide players with ranking points, Zheng has had a breakout season after moving into the top 10 for the first time following reaching the Australian Open final in January.

The Chinese No.1 currently sits ninth in the race to the WTA Finals, but has suggested that she was only recently made aware of the implications to qualify for the year-end tournament.

“It’s really funny I made the final of Australian Open, but after that I didn’t take some tournaments seriously so missed many WTA 1000s and didn’t get enough points,” Zheng confessed. “Judging from the points I have, it’s difficult for me to make the Finals this year.”

Zheng added, “I even complained to the team for not telling me earlier about the qualification of the WTA Finals. Now I feel the pressure but I cannot do anything. All I can do is give my best in the competitions.”

The top eight best players from the year qualify for the WTA Finals, with a new rule also being brought in this year that reserves the eighth spot for a Grand Slam champion from the season that does not automatically qualify, providing that they are still within the top 20.

Currently only Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have confirmed their qualification, with Barbora Krejcikova also set to take a spot as Wimbledon champion.

Therefore Zheng would likely need to be in one of those top seven spots to make her debut at the WTA Finals in Riyadh later this year.

Zheng is currently 498 points behind seventh placed Emma Navarro, as she looks to use the home support throughout the Chinese swing to bridge that gap.

The Olympic champion will begin her campaign at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing on Saturday, against lucky loser Kamila Rakhimova.

Inside the baseline…

It is somewhat concerning that Qinwen Zheng was not aware of the implications of qualifying for the WTA Finals as a player with big ambitions, and also that she claims to not have taken some WTA 1000 tournaments seriously. However, her story does add up with early losses at both Indian Wells and the Miami Open. Fortunately for Zheng, the last few months have been much more impressive and she does still stand a chance to qualify, but will need some impressive performances in her home country.

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Matthew Johns, Tennishead Writer, is a professional tennis journalist with a specialist degree in Sports Journalism. He's a keen tennis player having represented his local club and University plus he's also a qualified tennis coach. Matthew has a deep knowledge of tennis especially the ATP Tour and thrives on breaking big tennis news stories for Tennishead.