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.
Shang is fighting fit
Entering his US Open main-draw debut against 27th seed Alexander Bublik as very much the underdog, China’s teen sensation Shang Juncheng proved on Monday that his previous lack of fitness, at the fierce top echelon of the men’s game, is no longer slowing him down.
It’s no longer an issue thanks to the work of renowned trainer Marco Panichi, Djokovic’s former fitness instructor.
Stronger, lighter and quicker, Shang overcame Bublik’s formidable attack to complete a thrilling five-set comeback win, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7,6-3, 6-4, in three hours and 34 minutes on Court 11.
The match was a closely contested affair, with both players giving it their all, but in the end, Shang’s determination and endurance paid off.
A lot of the credit, not just for Monday’s win, but also his recent consistent performances, goes to Panichi, who began working with Shang earlier this month after ending a seven-year partnership with Djokovic in April.
“If you asked me about Djokovic’s fitness trainer two months ago, I’d thought he’s a magical figure. But, now I understand he’s just a great trainer and a nice person that always puts the player’s needs and feelings first,” Shang said of Panichi after Monday’s match.
“His training focuses more on the control of your core strength, instead of purely power training, and he gave me a lot of new suggestions on nutrition.”
Enjoying his best season as a pro, Shang has fought his way into two ATP Tour semifinals, first in Hong Kong in January and then Atlanta last month, and reached the third round at the Australian Open, as well as becoming, at the age of 19, the youngest Chinese player in history to crack the men’s top 100 in May.
The current world No 72 will next face Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena, ranked 55th, in what Shang anticipates will be another long-haul battle.
“He’s really a strong competitor in long rallies. It will be a tough fight for sure,” said Shang.