faced the famous American player Gauff , whom he had never defeated before, Zheng Qinwen failed to reach the top in the end.
In the WTA year-end finals championship match held in the early morning of November 10, Zheng Qinwen was dragged into the final set by his opponent after winning the first set, and ultimately lost in the tie-break of the final set. However,
was able to win the runner-up, which has tied the best result in the history of Chinese players in this event. This achievement can be accomplished by reaching the year-end finals for the first time. Zheng Qinwen has already created enough surprises.
In the 2024 season that came to an end, Zheng Qinwen allowed people to see her transformation and growth on the court. A more powerful and mature Zheng Qinwen has a promising future.
Zheng Qinwen (right) won the runner-up in the year-end finals.
Catching up with history, making history
For Zheng Qinwen, the 2024 season is undoubtedly a good year. At the Australian Open in early 2000, she made it all the way to the final and won the runner-up. She became another Chinese player after Li Na to reach the Grand Slam singles final, leaving her own historic moment.
Paris Olympic Games, she even defeated top players such as Swiatek to win the women's singles gold medal, winning the first singles gold medal in Olympic history for Chinese tennis.
In addition, she has left many achievements and records: the total season bonus of US$5.559 million set a historical record in Chinese tennis, advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open to tie her personal best, and advanced to the WTA1000 event for the first time in her career at the Wuhan Open. Finals, promotion to the semi-finals of the China Open, and winning the WTA500 Tokyo and WTA250 Palermo championships... At the end of the
season, Zheng Qinwen reached a total of 6 finals throughout the year, covering all levels of the tour to the Grand Slam. , Olympic Games, and year-end finals, and finally won three championships and three runner-ups.
As a result, she locked her year-end world ranking at No. 5. While setting a new personal high, she also became the No. 1 women's singles in Asia, and was only 4 points behind Paolini.
With a season record of 50 wins and 18 losses, Zheng Qinwen became the first Chinese player to win 50 tournaments in a single season since the Open era. Her runner-up finish in the year-end finals also tied the best score among Chinese players in the event created by Li Na.
Zheng Qinwen hits the ball in the game.
It is worth mentioning that Li Na failed in the group stage when she participated in the year-end finals in 2011 and 2012, but successfully reached the finals in 2013. Zheng Qinwen won the runner-up in his first trip to the year-end finals.
For Zheng Qinwen, who is still only 22 years old, she still has huge room for imagination in her future. Although he failed to win the championship this time, the Chinese golden flower is willing to look positively towards the future.
"This is my first year-end finals, and I still have a lot to learn. As long as you keep working hard, you will get opportunities. I know where I still need to improve, and I will do better next time." "
Victory and failure are both growing
's better and better results in the competition, making Zheng Qinwen's nickname of "queenwen" worthy of her name. From a young player to a "queen", it is inseparable from the training of every game.
Regardless of victory or failure, Zheng Qinwen can draw the power of progress from it. This may be the secret to her ability to reach higher heights step by step.
In fact, after reaching the women's singles final at the Australian Open and attracting huge attention, Zheng Qinwen fell into a slump for a while. The Grand Slam French Open and Wimbledon also stopped in the third round and the first round respectively. How to deal with the pressure after becoming famous? Studying against her opponents has become a topic before her.
Zheng Qinwen cheered himself up.
But Zheng Qinwen has overcome all these difficulties. At the Paris Olympics, she showed her best form. In the semifinals, she defeated her inner demons and defeated Polish star Swiatek, who had previously won 6 consecutive games against her, creating a new milestone for Chinese tennis.
“After the Australian Open, I missed too many opportunities and my mind was not clear. Sometimes I just played with a playful mentality and hit many irrational shots." Regarding her mentality during the downturn, Zheng Qinwen made a calm summary and made positive improvements, which ultimately helped her rise from the trough.
"(Olympic Games) When I stood on the clay court, I learned what I learned from the last time I played in the French Open. As a result of the loss, I played more calmly and with more patience than usual. It was this calmness and patience that brought me victory, including the reversal in so many difficult moments. "
With the experience of falling into a downturn after the Australian Open, the more mature Zheng Qinwen also learned to constantly remind herself to maintain a good attitude after winning the gold medal in the Olympics - the same lesson, she does not want to encounter the same lesson again.
Breaking into the US Open Entering the quarter-finals, she continued to perform well in the Asian season, and finally advanced to the year-end finals and won the runner-up... She successfully fulfilled her promise to maintain her condition.
"In difficult and tiring situations, my mentality has always been maintained. Smooth, this is a very big improvement for me. "Overcoming the effects of colds and injuries at the end of the season, Zheng Qinwen let the world see her determination and tenacity.
Zheng Qinwen lost to Gauff in the final.
The road to pursuing dreams has no end.
There is no doubt that after the outbreak of the 2024 season and Transformation, Zheng Qinwen has completed a magnificent transformation from a young star to a "top player" in the tennis world.
As the WTA official website describes, "Zheng Qinwen has single-handedly made tennis a hot topic in China, reaching an unprecedented level since Li Na." high. "The change in identity also brings different expectations and sense of responsibility.
Zheng Qinwen is also constantly adapting to the different external environment from the past. Especially after winning the gold medal in the Olympics, the huge attention was beyond her own expectations. , and also brought more voices from outside the court.
"Being a leader in tennis means that your words and deeds are under the public's gaze, and you must pay more attention to your words and performance on the court. Maybe you can't be so impulsive. "Her views on this are also very frank.
As a young person, how do you face the huge popularity? If you are not careful in this link, you may fall into the abyss, but fortunately Zheng Qinwen is already prepared. .
“I think it’s a good thing because it means someone is pushing me to improve and get better and better. At the same time, this can also be stressful. Because you can't live in other people's mouths forever. I need to have a good balance and know what I should and shouldn't do while still making progress. "
Zheng Qinwen's pursuit of dreams will continue.
From the time when it was difficult to accept losing, to now he strives to learn from each defeat and improve. From the former challenger to today's challenger, Zheng Qinwen has one belief that has not changed. , “I always keep in mind the need to find a balance between confidence and humility. Having confidence is a great thing, but it also comes with sobriety. "
has experienced a hugely rewarding 2024 season, and her competitive spirit is still strong. During the interseason period, rest adjustments, sponsor work, winter training and other matters will make her extra busy, but as she said after the Wuhan Open Words: The road to pursuing dreams has no end. This young man still has more goals to pursue.
Zheng Qinwen said that after winning the Olympic gold, her father has given her the next goal: "That is actually starting from. Our shared dream since I was 10 years old. I don’t need his push, I’m already doing my best to achieve my goals. "
" I hope that through my efforts, more people will understand tennis and more children will pick up a racket. Big dreams can only be achieved with persistence. "On the road to pursuing dreams, Zheng Qinwen is still climbing.
