China's Zheng Qinwen talks to the media on day 3 of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Ohio, U.S., August 13, 2024. /CFP
Zheng Qinwen has certainly stirred up great expectations after making history with China's first-ever Olympic tennis singles gold medal at just 21 years old. Now, the burning question is: can she carry that momentum from Paris and clinch the prestigious Cincinnati Open, a key tournament leading up to the US Open later this month?
The pressure was already on for Zheng making her first appearance post-Olympics, but it has only heightened following the early exits of all her compatriots.
Transitioning from the red clay courts in the French capital to the hard courts of Cincinnati, several Chinese players have displayed clear signs of struggling to adjust during the matches.
China's Zhang Shuai in action in the first round of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Ohio, U.S., August 13, 2024. /CFP
In a rather disappointing display, Wang Xinyu went head-to-head with Liudmila Samsonova in the opening round, with both players making a slew of mistakes. However, it was Wang who succumbed to a 4-6 defeat in both sets against her Russian opponent.
Zhang Shuai, on the other hand, faced off against another Russian star Diana Shnaider, fresh from her Olympic women's doubles campaign. The 35-year-old veteran seemed to be off her usual pace and suffered a ruthless 1-6, 4-6 defeat, marking her 22nd consecutive loss in her professional career.
Yuan Yue showed promise by taking the first set, but couldn't maintain her advantage in the second, eventually falling to former U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez 4-6.
Meanwhile, Wang Yafan, who had battled through the qualifiers to reach the main draw, went up against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in the opening round. Despite a hard-fought three-set match, she unfortunately ended up on the losing side 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
China's Zheng Qinwen bites her gold medal after winning the women's singles tennis final at the Roland Garros at the Olympics in Paris, France, August 3, 2024. /CFP
With Zheng emerging as the last Chinese female player in the Cincinnati Open, all eyes are on her upcoming match against Magdalena Frech scheduled for late Thursday. While the Polish qualifier, currently ranked 50th in the world, may not pose a significant challenge for Zheng, her primary concern lies in her physical well-being.
During a pre-match interview on Wednesday, Zheng disclosed that she has been battling symptoms of fever since her arrival in the United States.
"The flu hit me a bit. I got a bit sickness. I don't know why," said Zheng. "Maybe from the travel, maybe, because I took (caught) the flu in an airplane. Right now, I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent there. I mean, my mental (strength) was 100 percent ready, but my physical needs to wait...I need more time to be prepared and I wish I can be recovered by tomorrow, but let's see."
Despite the boost in morale from her Olympic gold medal, Zheng emphasized the importance of not dwelling too much on that victory and steering clear of excessive social media attention.
"Tennis moves forward, life moves forward. If I want to perform well in the next match, I must put it behind me and start afresh," Zheng concluded.