Zheng Qinwen is embracing the noise at the 2024 US Open—literally.
Want a glimpse at just how big of a star
Zheng Qinwen is these days? All you need to do is look, or listen, around the USTA BIllie Jean King National Tennis Center during the 2024 US Open.
Zheng, already a popular figure as she ascended up the WTA rankings over the last year, has entered rareifed air in her home country as a result of her on-court results in 2024: first, when she became just the second Chinese woman ever to reach a Grand Slam singles final at January's Australian Open, and then, last month, when she stormed to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, becoming just the fourth Chinese player ever to medal in tennis.
But as she's navigated her way through the first week in Queens, her popularity seems only to have grown, and it's shown particularly brightly here in Flushing—which proudly boasts the largest Chinese population in New York City. Fans have flocked to her practices and matches, eagerly awaiting autographs, and, when needed, have also vocally served as something of a doubles partner when Zheng has required a boost.
When you have the crowd behind you, you feel you have the more energy to play," Zheng said after a 6-2, 6-1 win over Germany's
Jule Niemeier on Friday. And she's proving it: After two three-set slogs in her first two matches, where she lost the first set against
Amanda Anisimova and
Erika Andreeva, Zheng was clinical in 1 hour and 21 minutes win over Niemeier, who reached the fourth round in New York in 2022.
The 21-year-old made her US Open debut just two years ago, reaching the third round, before breaking out to reach the quarterfinals last summer. While it's obvious that a lot has changed externally for the right-hander since then, a lot has also changed inside her.
"I remember two years ago when all the Chinese crowd is with me," Zheng recalled. "They [were] screaming in Chinese language. That [would] disturb me [back then] because I'm not used to so many people supporting on me, but after two years I feel the supporting from them will give me more courage, and I feel I have more power to be through on court."
I think after the Olympic Games, everybody in China start to know me. Because after Australia Open, maybe more [just] the tennis fans, they know me," she continued. "I remember when I come back to the street in China, I have to put my cap because if one recognize me, there will be a lot of people come to ask [for] my signature.
"Before I leave to the airport I was there 1 o'clock [in the morning] signing one hour because all the Chinese people. ... It's a lot of attention. I realize I have to behavior [sic] correctly, more responsibility. Of course, it's pressure, but also it's a chance for me to become a better player."
In Round 4, Zheng faces an Olympic rematch against No. 24 seed
Donna Vekic, whom she beat in straight sets to top the podium on the terre battue of Roland Garros. The Croatian is in the midst of a late-career resurgence: At 28 (having reached her first WTA singles final more than a decade ago at age 16), she also reached her first career Grand Slam semifinal this summer at Wimbledon.
It's the kind of match that presents a banana peel for a player of Zheng's caliber—Vekic boasts 15 career Top 10 wins, and reached the Open's quarterfinals five years ago—and is an eager challenger for a player whose motivations may have waned after reaching the summit of sport.
But that's not Zheng.
"For me it's just another match to go. It doesn't matter who I play against," she said. "But of course, in Olympic Games I fight a lot. I mean, I almost give everything Olympic Games, but ... playing US Open. I also going to give everything I [have], because I also consider US Open really, really important for me because Slams is always my dream."