Zheng Qinwen is seen enjoying a playful moment, surrounded by yellow tennis balls in an inflatable pool. Photographers capture these lighthearted images at Hard Rock Stadium, a setting usually filled with Miami Dolphins fans, but today dedicated to tennis.
Such engaging photoshoots are part of life for a Top 10 player, something the 22-year-old Zheng understands well. These kinds of images have contributed to her significant popularity in China.
Her rise to prominence is rooted in her tennis performance. While her 2024 season has been a mix of highs and lows, it has included remarkable achievements. Zheng, entering Miami ranked No. 9 globally, reached the Australian Open final, secured a singles gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and concluded strongly by competing in the WTA Finals Riyadh championship match, propelling her to No. 5 in the PIF WTA Rankings.
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On Thursday at the Miami Open, Zheng defeated Lauren Davis in the second round, 6-1, 7-5. As the No. 9 seed, she showcased her powerful serve with 12 aces and broke Davis`s serve four times. Next, Zheng will face the winner of the match between Yulia Putintseva and Taylor Townsend.
Reflecting on her season, Zheng openly shared her perspective on Tuesday.
“My 2024 has been a roller coaster, with both positive and negative moments,” Zheng told wtatennis.com. “There have been many lessons learned.”
“The Riyadh final was a positive result, but I know I could have performed better in the decisive moments. However, that`s the nature of tennis. Overall, I would rate my 2024 season as quite good.”
The experiences, both positive and negative, have provided valuable lessons that Zheng intends to utilize moving forward. In the continuous learning process of elite tennis, she has gained insights into the demands of being a professional player.
Reaching the final in Melbourne, she explained, was a double-edged sword – an exciting achievement that also came with unexpected challenges.
“For a couple of months afterwards, I struggled with motivation and didn`t approach some tournaments with the seriousness required,” Zheng admitted. “Even in practice, I became too relaxed.”
“After the Australian Open final, I realized, `I should have performed better in that crucial moment.’ Looking back, it became clear that consistent focus is essential.”
A highlight of her year was the Olympic Games in Paris, where she achieved victories over major champion Angelique Kerber, then-World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, and Donna Vekic in the gold medal match.
“The Olympics were an incredible and significant experience for me,” she said.
She is aiming to rediscover that winning feeling in Miami. Her year began with a 1-3 record, but she rebounded with three wins at Indian Wells, including victories over Victoria Azarenka and Marta Kostyuk.
Her extended season culminating in Riyadh, followed by a busy media and marketing schedule and a right elbow strain that limited preseason training, presented challenges. Despite team suggestions to skip the Australian Open, Zheng, motivated by her previous success, chose to compete.
She faced setbacks with a second-round loss to Laura Siegemund and opening match losses in Doha and Dubai. However, upon arriving at Indian Wells, with a renewed focus on elbow strengthening exercises, Zheng began to regain momentum and is now looking to build on that progress.
At the end of last year, she felt so strong she wished the season could continue.
“But tennis doesn’t work that way,” Zheng explained. “Without a fully fit body, it’s tough. If you can’t dedicate yourself fully on the court, there’s always someone practicing harder and wanting it more.”
Her goal for this year is to maintain humility and professionalism consistently, week after week, match after match.
“It`s about dedication,” Zheng stated. “Focus on every practice, regardless of past results. Whether you win a major title or lose in the first round, the key is to keep pushing forward.”
“Ultimately, consistent effort leads to consistent performance.”
