The Chinese Olympic champion celebrated her 22nd birthday on Tuesday before preparing to play a first main-draw match at her home tournament.
WUHAN, China—Zheng Qinwen is enjoying a homecoming unlike any other at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, her hometown tournament.
Before her press conference ended with enthusiastic applause from the local journalists, the reigning Olympic champion opened up about the celebrity that has accompanied her breakthrough 2024 season.
“I can feel the passion already when I’m walking on the street,” she said on Tuesday, which also happened to be her 22nd birthday. “Once they recognize me, everybody starts to came around asking me signature, asking the photos.
“I saw there is picture of me everywhere,” she added. “I mean, yes, that’s insane!”
But not too surprising given the breadth of Zheng’s success: after starting the year with a first Grand Slam final, she stormed to the top of the podium at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, stunning world No. 1 Iga Swiatek en route.
“Of course, there is pressure,” said Zheng, who comes to Wuhan at a career-high ranking of No. 7. “I’m also feeling the responsibility as a leader of the new generation, meaning what you are saying is under public scrutiny. I will pay attention to my performance on court as well as my words off court. I need to be cautious. It’s not like I can say whatever I want to say.
“It’s a good thing that people are watching me, watching me to improve. But you cannot live under the eyes of other people, so there’s a balance you need to strike.”
Zheng has seemed to find that balance so far, carrying her Olympic momentum into a second consecutive US Open quarterfinal. Kicking off her Asian Swing campaign in Beijing, she reached the semifinals—by far her best result in her home country.