Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng is anticipating a successful stretch in Asia as the China Open gets underway.
A Parisian fairytale for Qinwen Zheng has likely yet to completely wear off. Dumping out heavy-favorite Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals and ultimately ending her 25-match unbeaten run at Roland Garros was on of the biggest tennis upsets this year.
The red carpet had more or less already been rolled out for the Pole, her name already etched into Olympic history.
However, Zheng, who had previously recovered from match-point down in a frosty encounter with America’s Emma Navarro, defied the odds to secure China’s first Olympic gold in tennis.
Zheng bowed out in US Open quarterfinal in a rematch of this year’s Australian Open final, which saw the 21-year-old conclusively fail to get close to Aryna Sabalenka once again.
Qinwen Zheng insists she’s ‘different’ from other WTA players
With defending champion Iga Swiatek withdrawing from Beijing, and Elena Rybakina pulling out of her third consecutive WTA event, Sabalenka’s status as the hot favorite has only grown.
Zheng’s stock has risen immensely this year and her latest run of form has shot her into the top 10, currently sitting at a career-high of seven.
With Swiatek airing her WTA scheduling grievances in August, a worn-out field has given Zheng an opportunity, or so she claims.
“I can just tell you like this. After US Open, first thing come in my mind is the China tour, China Open, Wuhan Open,” she said in her China Open press conference.
“People start to get tired at the end of the season. For me it’s different. I’m really motivated to come play in China, in front of my people. I know they’re going to support me.”
With ambitions understandably high and an eagerness to impress on home soil, the 21-year-old continued: “I feel right now I’m quite fresh for all those tournament ’cause I have a big expectations ’cause last year for the Asia Games, I was not able to prepare well in the China Open. But this year I had a good preparation. I really want to see how it goes.”
Who is Qinwen Zheng set to play in her opening match at the China Open?
Seeded fifth, Zheng has automatically received a first-round bye and will play either Australia’s Kimberly Birrell or Kamilla Rakhimova in the second round.
If she is to progress, she potentially faces Dayana Yastremska in the third round, a repeat of January’s Australian Open semi-final.
With Jessica Pegula seeded second, she is set to face Diane Parry in her opener, after the Frenchwoman recovered from a set down to advance.
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