Zheng Qinwen just wants to keep ‘winning, winning, winning’ after Paris Olympics gold
- Chinese player admits to loss of motivation after losing in the final of the Australian Open at start of year
China’s Zheng Qinwen will take on a resurgent Amanda Anisimova in the first round of the US Open on Monday, determined not to let her historic Olympic gold be a flash in the pan.
The 21-year-old claimed her country’s first Olympic singles title in Paris earlier this month, and said she just wanted to keep “winning, winning, winning”.
Zheng has acknowledged losing some motivation after being comfortably beaten in the final of the Australian Open at the start of the year, with Aryna Sabalenka dispatching her 6-3, 6-2 t Rod Laver Arena.
“And after I won Olympic gold medal, the first thing I told to myself is I want to keep the motivation on,” Zheng told reporters at Flushing Meadows. “I don’t want to let myself slip again. I really want to improve one more time in my mental side.
“It’s how to maintain the level when you become a champion and just to keep winning, winning, winning, instead of getting relaxed and let yourself lose easy match. If I’m able to do that, I think I will really break through some wall that I have for myself.”
Monday’s match will be the first time Zheng and Anisimova have faced each other on court. The American wild card has also been on the comeback trail in 2024 after taking a mental health break last year, and two weeks ago surged back into the Top 50 after reaching her first WTA 1000 final in Toronto.
