Paris Olympics champion Zheng Qinwen showed significant progress in her mental game with a come-from-behind win in the US Open first round against Amanda Anisimova. Despite being on the back foot early on, world number seven Zheng managed to secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over her American opponent.
Zheng, who is the first Olympic singles champion from China, was particularly happy to build on her Olympic success.
“It’s the typical match I will lose, especially after huge success,” AFP quoted Zheng. “Usually after huge success I will get a little bit too high, until reality slap me down again and I come back to the ground and trying to be humble and work hard.”
At 21, Zheng emphasized the importance of maintaining her focus and avoiding any post-triumph let-downs. Anisimova, however, made it challenging. “It was really difficult, the match today,” she noted. “She’s hitting the ball very strong and the only things I feel like I can do today during the match is just to stay with her and find my moment.”
Anisimova entered the US Open in good form, having climbed from a ranking of 373rd in the world at the start of the year to within the top 50. Her performance this month in Toronto, where she reached the final, earned her a wildcard invitation to the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
“Every ball (from Anisimova) went inside in the beginning and I couldn’t do anything,” Zheng admitted. “More as the match goes I started to find my rhythm on hard court. Little by little I started to get into the rhythm.”
After the match, an on-court interviewer praised Zheng’s Olympic gold medal achievement, prompting her to redirect the focus to her current goals. Reflecting on her runner-up finish to Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open, Zheng expressed her desire not to let her form slip again.
“This time when I get a success, I’m telling myself, I don’t want to let this happen. I’m going to continue working hard, keep the stable mindset,” she said.
Zheng, who is the first Olympic singles champion from China, was particularly happy to build on her Olympic success.
“It’s the typical match I will lose, especially after huge success,” AFP quoted Zheng. “Usually after huge success I will get a little bit too high, until reality slap me down again and I come back to the ground and trying to be humble and work hard.”
At 21, Zheng emphasized the importance of maintaining her focus and avoiding any post-triumph let-downs. Anisimova, however, made it challenging. “It was really difficult, the match today,” she noted. “She’s hitting the ball very strong and the only things I feel like I can do today during the match is just to stay with her and find my moment.”
Anisimova entered the US Open in good form, having climbed from a ranking of 373rd in the world at the start of the year to within the top 50. Her performance this month in Toronto, where she reached the final, earned her a wildcard invitation to the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
“Every ball (from Anisimova) went inside in the beginning and I couldn’t do anything,” Zheng admitted. “More as the match goes I started to find my rhythm on hard court. Little by little I started to get into the rhythm.”
After the match, an on-court interviewer praised Zheng’s Olympic gold medal achievement, prompting her to redirect the focus to her current goals. Reflecting on her runner-up finish to Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open, Zheng expressed her desire not to let her form slip again.
“This time when I get a success, I’m telling myself, I don’t want to let this happen. I’m going to continue working hard, keep the stable mindset,” she said.
