In the early morning of August 4th, Beijing time, the news that Zheng Qinwen and won the championship broke out in the circle of friends.
Among the people who forwarded Zheng Qinwen’s winning photos and sent blessings in their circle of friends, some of them are not tennis fans, and may even be watching Zheng Qinwen’s game for the first time, but this also proves that this 21-year-old girl is in Paris. The history created by the Roland Garros clay court has an impact on China that transcends sports.
"Sister Na is the number one in Asia"
After winning two consecutive sets at 6-2 and 6-3, Zheng Qinwen became the first tennis singles gold medal winner in Chinese Olympic history after defeating Croatia's Vekic. This is a glory that even Li Na has never touched.
"I think Sister Na (Li Na) is the first in Asia no matter what, because she is the first Chinese female player to win a Grand Slam. And I am the first Asian player to win an Olympic gold medal. I At the same time, it also created history." When talking about his historical status after winning the Olympic gold medal, Zheng Qinwen, who was sitting in the post-match press conference, smiled shyly, "I still have a long way to go. Every era has its heroes, and every era has its winners of that era. I think Sister Na is the leader of her era, and I also hope to reach my limit and become a better person. A good player, a better self, to lead the younger generation."
In order to become the "better self" he calls himself, Zheng Qinwen spent more than a week standing in the holy land of clay court Roland Garros, and gave up most of his efforts. Unimaginable effort.
"My physical condition is basically that I have been in pain since the third round, so I have been wearing a bandage since then." Zheng Qinwen revealed after the game that this was her first time in the game. He played 5 consecutive games in such an important competition, and three of the fierce battles took a total of 9 hours. Especially against Kerber, Zheng Qinwen gave up almost everything, "I feel that I have exceeded a limit, because I know that in the Olympics, On the stage, even if my body is no longer good, I will fight until the last moment. This is a belief I made before I even stood on the field. Maybe it is because of this belief that I have no way out and I have won so many games. "
In order to create history in the Olympic women's singles arena, Zheng Qinwen finally gave up the mixed doubles combination with Zhang Zhizhen. This was actually a small guilt she left in her heart after winning the Olympic gold medal. Zheng Qinwen herself revealed that she had been looking for Zhang Zhizhen to pair up with her in the Olympic mixed doubles competition at first. "I felt very sorry for Zhang Zhizhen, and then I cried to him at that time. I said, 'I am really sorry for you. Because if I play mixed doubles with you today, I really won't have the energy to fight for Kerber tomorrow."
Fortunately, Zheng Qinwen's guilt was made up for by and Wang Xinyu. After learning that the mixed doubles combination could change partners, Zheng Qinwen also recommended Wang Xinyu, and this temporarily formed "Zhenxin combination" also made history and won a valuable mixed doubles silver medal for Chinese tennis.
"I am really happy for them, because this is also the success of our Chinese tennis. I feel that this time it seems that fortune has gathered on Chinese tennis."
The Olympic Games are more important than the Grand Slams
There is always luck, obviously It is not enough to help Zheng Qinwen create history in the Olympics. Success is always reserved for those who are prepared, and this time in Paris, 21-year-old Zheng Qinwen was the strong one who was fully prepared.
Starting from the French Open in 2022, Zheng Qinwen, who was only 19 years old at the time, started his rapid rise. Reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2023, reaching the finals of the Australian Open in 2024, winning the WTA500 Zhengzhou Station, and winning the singles championship twice at the WTA250 Palermo Station... Zheng Qinwen has reached the seventh place in the world with each victory. s position. However, behind the honor and halo, Zheng Qinwen also suffered many tragic losses. In her view, those unforgettable failures were the steps she took to reach the top of the Olympics.
"When I stood on the clay court this time, I learned the lesson of why I lost at the French Open last time. I played calmer than usual, I had more patience, and I didn't act like a loser like last time. The beat beat my opponent to death, and it was precisely because of this calmness and patience that I was able to win, including the fact that I was able to reverse the situation in so many difficult moments."
In addition to the lessons learned in defeat, the Olympics has a special meaning for Zheng Qinwen. , also brought her a huge spiritual motivation.
Zheng Qinwen revealed that her father had been mentioning the Grand Slam and the Olympics to her since she was about 10 years old. Under such influence, Zheng Qinwen, who had just started to play tennis, formed a concept in her mind - the Olympics are more powerful than the Olympics. Slams are more important.
"When I was interviewed in 2022, I said that I have been looking forward to the 2024 Olympics. However, I know that if my expectations are too high, it will bring disappointment, so I have been trying to control my expectations in my heart." Zheng Qinwen said frankly that in fact, she was still very nervous and stressed in every game in the Olympic Games, but before this moment, she would remember, "Behind me, I represent the entire Chinese tennis, and I know that the Chinese people have also been supporting me." Come on for me, so the moment I win the championship, everything is worth it.”
Close social accounts and not be infected by the outside world
Zheng Qinwen also revealed a small detail at the press conference, that is, in Paris. During this period, she closed her social account and tried to protect herself from the outside world. However, she was not completely isolated from the outside world. She still followed the news about Chinese athletes competing for gold and silver every day. In her own words, "Seeing Chinese Olympic athletes keep winning medals and competing has always inspired me, because I also want to be a part of them."
Before every game, Zheng Qinwen will watch Chinese athletes many times She tried to give herself strength by watching the video of her winning the championship, and there was a video of an athlete in it that inspired her the most, that is Liu Xiang, the former men's 110-meter hurdles Olympic champion.
Zheng Qinwen said at the post-match press conference, "I watched his interview, and he said that he won this championship when he was 21 years old, which was the peak of his life. Then, I am also 21 years old this year, exactly 20 years later. Today, I stand on this court, and I feel that I can do it.”
Zheng Qinwen did it. To a certain extent, her Olympic tennis women’s singles gold medal is the same as Liu Xiang’s breakthrough in track and field. , all have similar social influence, because they have broken the monopoly of European and American athletes in their respective sports.
will never forget that he is a Chinese athlete
Interestingly, at the press conference after winning the gold medal, a foreign reporter asked Zheng Qinwen an interesting question, "Many people commented that your team is actually very Internationalization, and it is this kind of international team that allows you to reach the level of a top player. Do you agree with this statement? "
" Indeed, my team is very international, and tennis itself is also an international sport. , but my success cannot be separated from the support and encouragement of my family. I am Chinese." Zheng Qinwen emphasized that it was her mother who quit her job when she was 12 years old to take care of her wholeheartedly, so that she could concentrate on practicing football. It is her father’s strict requirements that can continuously push her to improve. “I have an international team because I always hope to become stronger, but no matter where I go, I will never forget that I am an international team. "
After winning this historic breakthrough in the Olympics, Zheng Qinwen also hopes that her sense of honor and belonging can inspire more Chinese young people, just as she was praised by Li Na 13 years ago. Inspiring like that, "I hope to say to the young people who are watching my game, dream big, please be brave enough to dream, because only by dreaming can you have a goal to achieve."
However, Zheng Qinwen also hopes that everyone who strives to pursue their dreams can remember every bit of the journey of growth, "But don't forget that there may be hardships, difficulties, doubts, doubts, sacrifices, tears, and failures along the way. . You must enjoy this process, because all failures are for that moment of success. If you stand in my position today, you will find that all the efforts in the past are worth it at this moment, and then life is worthwhile. . "
21-year-old Zheng Qinwen has also experienced those failures and setbacks. She said herself that she was also a girl who hid in the corner and cried after losing. She also doubted herself, but persevered and pursued a better one. Persistence transformed her.
At the press conference, a reporter asked, "Queen Wen is finally Queen Wen after winning the Olympic gold medal. Do you agree with this statement?" "
Zheng Qinwen was silent for a moment, "I very much agree with this statement. Maybe I would have been modest before, but now I really feel that I have exceeded my limits, so I deserve this title. "
