Zheng confident ahead of Swiatek clash
After a week in which she has announced herself as a member of the sport’s elite, Zheng Qinwen is in confident mood ahead of her round of 16 appearance at Roland Garros this year. Victories over Maryna Zanevska, 2018 champion Simona Halep and Alize Cornet have seen the 19-year-old become the first Chinese player to reach the fourth round in Paris since the great Li Na in 2012.
“My expectation in French Open is just go match by match and to give everything I have on court,” Zheng said after her third round triumph over Cornet, who was hampered by injury and was forced to retire with the score at 6-0 3-0, on Saturday. “I always know that I have the level to do something. Let's see what's gonna happen here.”
Zheng made it through qualifying at the Australian Open in January to make her Grand Slam debut, where she overcame Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round of the main draw before falling to Maria Sakkari. But it is her performances in Paris that have seen her gain international attention – and even a few comparisons to Li herself.
Like Li, Zheng is a beneficiary of the Grand Slam Player Development Programme (formerly known as the Grand Slam Development Fund). Zheng is one of 44 players from around the world to have received a grant of $25,000 from the programme this season, giving athletes assistance with competition-related costs.
And Zheng’s on-court form in 2022 has been exemplary – after her Australian Open second round finish saw her break the world’s Top 100 for the first time, she then won a W60 event on the ITF World Tennis Tour, overcoming a strong field to win the title in Orlando without dropping a set. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 70 in April and her performances in Paris thus far mean that she is now on the brink of breaking the Top 50.
Unsurprisingly, however, the focus for Zheng is very much on the present. “To be in a Grand Slam is one of my childhood dreams,” she said. “I have been imagining a lot to play on a big stadium and to play here in front of everybody. I only want to give the best when I will stay in the big stadium, and I feel just I have to give my best always on the court.”
She will have to be at her absolute best if she is to progress further at Roland Garros. Her next opponent is world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who recorded a 31st consecutive victory on Saturday, defeating Danka Kovinic to move one step closer to repeating her title triumph here in 2020.
“Of course she's wonderful player,” Zheng said of Swiatek. “Actually, I have been prepared for this match, because I really wanted to play against her. I know that she's great clay court player and she has a nice game to play on clay. That will be a tough match, for sure. I will give everything I have for the next match.”
But whether Zheng wins or loses in her match against Swiatek on Monday, she has much to be proud of on her Roland Garros main draw debut. The rest of the women’s tour will, undoubtedly, also have taken note.