World No. 7 Zheng Qinwen shrugged off claims that she feared coach Wim Fissette realizing her could be Naomi Osaka’s benefit because the Chinese language tennis star says she is consistently growing her sport and her solely concern going into the match was taking part in her tennis.
After splitting with Osaka in mid-2022 after two and a half years of working collectively, Fissette began working with Zheng in the beginning of the 2023 grass season. Early of their partnership, 21-year-old Zheng seemed to be making strides with Fissette as a coach and plenty of thought it was a terrific collaboration.
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However then after the 2023 US Open, Zheng left everybody shocked when she introduced that Fissette just about dumped her so he might return to working with Osaka. When sharing that, Zheng appeared fairly pissed off over all the scenario and she or he wasn’t hiding that she was extraordinarily disenchanted in Fissette.
On Monday in Rome, Osaka performed in opposition to a top-10 participant for the primary time since launching her post-pregnancy comeback. And her opponent was Zheng, who handed her a 6-2 6-4 loss.
After the match, Zheng was requested if she feared there was one thing about her sport that Fissette might share to Osaka and provides her the sting. Answering the query, Zheng mentioned that wasn’t the case as her focus was on taking part in her sport and being the one who could be higher sport and mentally-wise.
“Truthfully, I do not actually care ‘trigger I believe the gamers, particularly me as a participant, I attempt to develop my sport on a regular basis. I am all the time looking for the room that I can enhance. I really feel as soon as I cease to enhance is the place my tennis goes down,” Zheng answered.
“They’ve their very own sport plan. I’ve my very own sport plan. So let’s have a battle at present and let’s examine who has a greater feeling, higher mentality, higher sport at present.
“Like what I say earlier than, at present the match went in my manner. I really feel fairly good in my serve, my return, and all my groundstrokes. So, yeah, I am fairly pleased with the win at present.”
Zheng on beating Osaka and the most important respect for her: She has received many Slams
After breaking Osaka within the first sport of the match, Zheng bought damaged again immediately within the following sport. Nevertheless, Zheng stored taking part in her sport and profitable the primary set was by no means a doubt because the Chinese language earned back-to-back breaks within the fifth and seventh sport to nonetheless fairly simply win the opener.
Initially of the second set, Zheng broke Osaka within the first sport of the set after which served her strategy to a two-set win over the four-time Grand Slam champion.
“Yeah, clearly at present it isn’t simple to play in opposition to her as a result of she has received many Grand Slams earlier than and she or he’s robust to beat. I simply gave my all the things on the court docket and I am glad at present the match went in my manner,” Zheng mentioned.
For Zheng and Osaka, this was their second assembly. Beforehand, Osaka defeated Zheng 6-4 3-6 6-1 after they met within the San Jose first spherical in 2022 August.
When requested if dropping to Osaka two years in the past had any influence on her going into their Rome match, Zheng merely underlined it was a very totally different scenario and she or he did not consider their assembly that got here practically two years in the past.
“Truthfully, I simply go clear at present ‘trigger that match was very long time in the past. It was my first 12 months in tour. There’s nothing to match to that match,” Zheng defined.
‘Trigger additionally in that second we’re taking part in on onerous court docket. The sport was completely totally different, onerous to clay… Right now I simply went clear, arrange my sport and went for it.”
“I believe does not matter who I play in opposition to, it is good for me. I believe if you find yourself in quarterfinal, each participant are hungry. Particularly me, I am actually excited to play my subsequent match once more,” Zheng mentioned.
Zheng on taking part in Coco Gauff subsequent
After beating Osaka, Zheng was ready on the winner of the match between Gauff and Paula Badosa. After the opening set of the match, former world No. 2 Badosa was nearer to profitable the match however then third-seeded Gauff created a comeback to seal a 5-7 6-4 6-1 win and likewise arrange a gathering versus Zheng.
For Zheng, 21, and 20-year-old Gauff, their Rome quarterfinal assembly may also be the primary time that they are going to be taking part in in opposition to one another.
“Each of them, I’d say they’re robust to beat. That they had actually good efficiency earlier than. Would not matter who I play in opposition to, I simply going to point out my all the things, give my finest, deal with them like the perfect participant I going to face in entrance. Simply take pleasure in my tennis,” Zheng mentioned when requested about taking part in both Gauff or Badosa.
