During the women’s singles semifinals of the 2024 China Open held in Beijing on October 5th, Chinese player Zheng Qinwen unfortunately fell during the match, injuring her finger. Ultimately, she lost to Czech player Marketa Vondrousova with a score of 0-2, missing the chance to advance to the finals.
In the semifinal match, Zheng’s mishap occurred in the sixth game of the first set while she was desperately trying to return the ball. Despite the injury, she fought hard but fell short with scores of 3-6, 4-6 against the former French Open runner-up. The moment of her fall, followed by her tears on the court, was particularly poignant for fans.
During a medical timeout, Zheng was visibly emotional, with teary eyes. After taking a painkiller, she bravely stepped back onto the court to finish the match, demonstrating both resilience and determination.
After the match, Zheng reflected on her performance and admitted, “I haven’t been at my best physically and mentally, especially after dealing with a recent cold and not enough rest. I know I can do better.”
From her emotional breakthrough in Paris to her bittersweet experience in Beijing, the past two and a half months have given Zheng’s tears a new context. Before the Paris Olympics, she faced consecutive defeats at the French Open and Wimbledon, prompting her to share a valuable lesson: “I’ve learned that I need to be patient. Having great strength is important, but knowing when to use it is crucial. The best players aren’t necessarily the strongest or the fastest; it’s about making the right choices at the right moments without chasing perfection.”
Zheng’s journey to Olympic gold was marked by a series of impressive comebacks, battling through oppressive heat to clinch Asia’s first Olympic tennis singles gold medal. She then matched her best performance at the US Open, pushing through tough matches until the early hours of the morning.
At the China Open, held at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Zheng continued her trend of resilience, battling to comeback victories against Amanda Anisimova and Ekaterina Alexandrova. This year has seen her win all three of her three-set matches during the second half of the season.
“When I step on the court now, I sometimes know I’m not in top condition, but it’s about finding ways to win rather than blaming myself for how things are. In previous matches, I let technical issues affect me, but now I focus solely on each point,” she noted, emphasizing her growth in dealing with the challenges that come with competing at the highest level.
This China Open marked a significant milestone for Zheng, as she reached the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career. Joining Li Na and Wang Qiang, she became only the third local player to reach the women’s singles semifinals since the tournament was upgraded to a 1000 event in 2009. However, missing the finals means she still has a step to go to qualify for the year-end championships.
“Since the Australian Open, my performance hasn’t been very stable. Now, as I think about entering the finals, I feel a sense of urgency. Moving forward, I need to ensure I perform well,” Zheng summarized her first-half performance. She admits that she found it challenging to stay grounded after her success and that it was only through facing setbacks that she could regain her focus. Forgetting the glow of Olympic victory and maintaining calm and stability has become central to her approach.
Zheng is determined to turn the disappointment from the China Open into motivation. She will soon participate in the Wuhan Open, stating, “I will take it one match at a time, focusing on getting my body and mind back to where they need to be to play my best tennis.”
