Zheng Qinwen (21) became the second Chinese woman after Li Na (41) to play her way into a Grand Slam final. In the final of the Australian Open, Zheng is a clear outsider against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka (25) from Belarus, but the young Chinese woman’s path leads steeply upwards.
She has been on the professional tour since 2020, and from next Monday (January 29, 2024) she will be in the top ten of the women’s world rankings for the first time.
Becker asks Rittner about Zheng Qinwen – it’s not all praise
Her fans have already given her the nickname “Queenwen” – but a TV expert also slightly criticized the new tennis “queen” after Zheng’s semi-final victory against Dajana Jastremska (23, Ukraine).
“What is she like?” TV expert Boris Becker (56) asked his colleague Barbara Rittner (50) in the Eurosport program “Matchball Becker”. The Chinese woman makes a likeable and charismatic impression on them and is a “refreshing new face” on the tour.
Rittner praised the meticulous and hard-working player, but also reported a “touch of arrogance” that she noticed in the Chinese player when she was a teenager. “That can also be a positive thing, she is very self-confident,” emphasized the long-time German Fed Cup boss.
However, she then backed up her assessment with an anecdote from the tournament in Miami two years ago. At that time, Zheng, who, according to Rittner, was very hyped early on, insisted on riding alone in a car from the driving service. Rittner and Nastasja Schunk (20), who she looked after, had to wait.
“I thought that was so medium. “She was only 19 then,” Rittner openly admitted: “She knows where she wants to go, but she’s also being pampered quite a bit.”
This swipe is unlikely to have got through to Zheng. After her semi-final success, the Chinese woman had to complete a short interview marathon and was in demand by international and Chinese media. She can hardly save herself from sponsors anyway, and last year she also graced the cover of the Chinese edition of “GQ” magazine.
In the final on Saturday (January 27th, 9.30 a.m. on Eurosport) she wants to outwit the favored world number two Sabalenka.
“She is a complete player,” Zheng praised her final opponent. Being in the final is a dream come true for her. “But my dream is not just the final. I’m almost there, but I know the last part of the journey will be long.”
2024-01-25 19:27:00
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