BEIJING, 28 August (BelTA - China Daily) - Unlike her proud male
counterpart Novak Djokovic, China's reigning Olympic champion Zheng
Qinwen didn't carry her gold medal from Paris to New York, obeying her
parents' instructions to keep the family treasure safe at home.
However, she did pack her champion's mentality. It helped Zheng land her biggest career title to date, and appears to have taken root for the 21-year-old star.
Riding on the golden momentum and her newfound resilience, Zheng opened her US Open run on Monday, taking a "W" from a match that she admits she'd have lost in the past, if not for the fight she rediscovered in herself on her history-making Olympic journey.
And, with arguably the most significant individual feat of all the Chinese Olympians in Paris behind her, Zheng vows to move on quickly. For all intents and purposes, it's back to square one.
"It's typically a match I would lose (in the past), especially after a huge success," Zheng confessed after surviving a first-set scare to outplay resurgent local star Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 at Louis Armstrong Stadium, reaching the second round of the season's final major on Monday.
"I know myself. After huge success, I would get a little bit too high, until reality slaps me down again," said Zheng, referring to her struggle on the pro circuit after reaching her first major final at this year's Australian Open in January.
"This time, after the success (at the Olympics), I told myself 'I don't want to let this happen. I am going to continue working hard and keep a stable mindset'.
"To win this match means that I have taken a step forward mentally."
Zheng, who reached her first quarterfinal at a Slam at Flushing Meadows last year, started slowly against the in-form Anisimova, a finalist at the WTA1000 tournament in Toronto two weeks ago, quickly falling behind 5-1 in the first set. However, once she found her service groove in the second, Zheng took control of the rallies and closed out the match in the deciding set with her now trademark aggression.
Her monumental win at the Paris Games came after a run of six tough matches, including a career-first win against world No 1 Iga Swiatek, at Roland Garros, and will only pour more fuel on the fire inside her to hit more career highs — hopefully starting in New York.
"That gold medal means a lot for my country, for my family and for myself," said Zheng, who's next match will be against world No 75, Erika Andreeva of Russia, who saw off Zheng's compatriot, Yuan Yue, in straight sets on Monday.
"At the Australian Open. I was just in the final, and it took so long to get back to reality. I've had this experience already. So, this time, after the success at the Olympics, coming to the next tournament, I said 'everything starts from zero. You are not an Olympic champion anymore, just work hard and fight every single match'.
"I need to find my real game on the hard court, try to be a bit more aggressive (to achieve better results in New York)."
Earlier, at Stadium 17, Chinese player Wang Yafan cruised into the second round after her opponent, Greek No 9 seed Maria Sakkari, had to retire from the match with a shoulder injury after Wang won the first set 6-2.
However, she did pack her champion's mentality. It helped Zheng land her biggest career title to date, and appears to have taken root for the 21-year-old star.
Riding on the golden momentum and her newfound resilience, Zheng opened her US Open run on Monday, taking a "W" from a match that she admits she'd have lost in the past, if not for the fight she rediscovered in herself on her history-making Olympic journey.
And, with arguably the most significant individual feat of all the Chinese Olympians in Paris behind her, Zheng vows to move on quickly. For all intents and purposes, it's back to square one.
"It's typically a match I would lose (in the past), especially after a huge success," Zheng confessed after surviving a first-set scare to outplay resurgent local star Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 at Louis Armstrong Stadium, reaching the second round of the season's final major on Monday.
"I know myself. After huge success, I would get a little bit too high, until reality slaps me down again," said Zheng, referring to her struggle on the pro circuit after reaching her first major final at this year's Australian Open in January.
"This time, after the success (at the Olympics), I told myself 'I don't want to let this happen. I am going to continue working hard and keep a stable mindset'.
"To win this match means that I have taken a step forward mentally."
Zheng, who reached her first quarterfinal at a Slam at Flushing Meadows last year, started slowly against the in-form Anisimova, a finalist at the WTA1000 tournament in Toronto two weeks ago, quickly falling behind 5-1 in the first set. However, once she found her service groove in the second, Zheng took control of the rallies and closed out the match in the deciding set with her now trademark aggression.
Her monumental win at the Paris Games came after a run of six tough matches, including a career-first win against world No 1 Iga Swiatek, at Roland Garros, and will only pour more fuel on the fire inside her to hit more career highs — hopefully starting in New York.
"That gold medal means a lot for my country, for my family and for myself," said Zheng, who's next match will be against world No 75, Erika Andreeva of Russia, who saw off Zheng's compatriot, Yuan Yue, in straight sets on Monday.
"At the Australian Open. I was just in the final, and it took so long to get back to reality. I've had this experience already. So, this time, after the success at the Olympics, coming to the next tournament, I said 'everything starts from zero. You are not an Olympic champion anymore, just work hard and fight every single match'.
"I need to find my real game on the hard court, try to be a bit more aggressive (to achieve better results in New York)."
Earlier, at Stadium 17, Chinese player Wang Yafan cruised into the second round after her opponent, Greek No 9 seed Maria Sakkari, had to retire from the match with a shoulder injury after Wang won the first set 6-2.
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