Zheng Qinwen, the reigning Olympic champion, is experiencing an extraordinary homecoming at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, her hometown tournament. The 22-year-old has become a celebrity in China after her breakthrough 2024 season, which included a Grand Slam final and an Olympic gold medal.
Zheng’s newfound fame has brought both excitement and pressure. “I can feel the passion already when I’m walking on the street,” she said. “Once they recognize me, everybody starts to came around asking me signature, asking the photos.”
Despite the attention, Zheng remains focused on her tennis. “I’m also feeling the responsibility as a leader of the new generation,” she said. “I will pay attention to my performance on court as well as my words off court. I need to be cautious.”
Zheng has struck a balance between her newfound celebrity and her tennis career. She has carried her Olympic momentum into a second consecutive US Open quarterfinal and reached the semifinals in Beijing.
At the Wuhan Open, Zheng is seeded fifth and will face Romanian wild card Jaqueline Cristian in her first match. “It’s not that important who you’re facing,” she said. “I need to focus on myself because it’s really hard to control. I need to be myself the best to perform the best.”
Zheng also shared a message for young players, encouraging them to enjoy their childhood and not focus solely on winning. “To those children who are practicing tennis, I hope that you can enjoy your time in elementary school because that’s a time when winning is not that important, just enjoy tennis.”
