Qinwen Zheng: "At 21, I achieved great things, but it wasn't my highest level"
The Chinese player, already in the quarterfinals of the WTA in Beijing, compared her best days on the tour to this recovery phase that is bringing her back to her peak performance.
Not so long ago, Qinwen Zheng was in the top 5 in the world, fighting for major titles and competing against anyone. If it hadn't been for injuries, the Chinese player would still be in the mix, but fate has taken her on a long path full of twists and new challenges.
This week, the WTA 1000 in Beijing is just another proof that the Asian tennis player is on the right track. Having dropped out of the top 100 and forced to play through several qualifying rounds, she is now starting to see light at the end of the tunnel after this past year and a half. Virtually back in the top 50, Qinwen turns 24 today in a form that reignites hope. Yesterday, after defeating Charaeva in another tightly contested match, she shared these words with us.
Victory to celebrate the birthday
“I am very grateful for winning this match because there were many ups and downs, but I am happy to be on the court and finally achieve victory. Everyone knows that today is my last day being 23 years old. I hope my team has prepared a nice birthday gift for me.”
Resilience as a starting point
“Physically I wasn’t at my best, but I am still holding on. I’ve played many matches that went to three sets and got some good wins in the first set. I think I need to find a way to maintain consistency and concentration for longer, although I feel my stamina is quite good. Of course, there is always something I can improve physically.”
Fought through in three 💪 Zheng Qinwen defeats Charaeva for a place in the last eight in Beijing! #ChinaOpen https://t.co/rqFTvVdj7c
— wta (@WTA) October 7, 2026
Qinwen Zheng, in search of a new version of herself
“I am trying to be a better version of myself, to improve and discover a new version. I have always said that I did very good things when I was 21, but that was not my highest level. I feel there is still so much more I can do. Now that I am turning 24, I want to find out if I can do much better as I age and gain maturity. Mentally, I am also more stable than before; when I was younger, I was very emotional.”
The ranking does not reflect her true level
“Right now, for me, the ranking is just a number. Of course, it reflects what I have done over the past year, but I know where I can be. I don’t think my current position represents where I belong. My highest ranking has been No. 4 in the world, and I still believe I can go higher. I want to discover what I can bring to the future. I know it within me, but I have to prove it.”
Growing without looking back
“I think I improve and discover new things about myself every year. Year after year, I try to get better; I guess that’s development. I don’t like to compare my current self too much with the past because when things don’t go well, even my parents sometimes tell me I was better before; I don’t agree. Your body changes every year, and you need to adapt to your conditions at each moment.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Qinwen Zheng: "Con 21 años hice grandes cosas, pero no fue mi máximo nivel"