Zheng hails best season yet: “Whatever happens I fight”

The Chinese won Olympic gold and reached her first slam final, at the Australian Open

Zheng Qinwen. Wuhan 2024

November 10, 2024

It is a mark of how far Zheng Qinwen has come in the past 12 months that she left the WTA Finals slightly disappointed, after going so close to winning the title.

The Chinese served for the title against Coco Gauff at 5-4 in the third set of a pulsating, epic final, but couldn’t get it done as the American surged back for victory.

Left it all out on the court today 💪

Zheng Qinwen finishes off a successful season with an impressive week in Riyadh. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/yURr1cDHMd
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 9, 2024

But after a year in which she won the Olympic gold medal, reached her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open and then went so close in Riyadh, Zheng was ultimately satisfied, as she should be.

Overall, Zheng’s fighting spirit pulled her through her career-best year, and she will carry that with her into next season.

“Just stay strong, let’s see”

“I think the positive thing is, I fight, whatever happens on court,” Zheng said, quoted by the WTA Tour website. “And then I had a great season. It’s my first time WTA Finals. And you know, even the final (didn’t go her) way, but I still got a lot of things to learn.

“This is tennis. It’s like you fight, but not always you are the one. But if you always keep going and keep in that spot, you will get your chance, I think. I mean tennis-wise, of course, always I need to improve. But just stay strong, and let’s see.”

Zheng’s compensation for going so close is that she will end the year ranked a career-high No 7, with the promise of much more to come.