Zheng has made much more serene progress at the Australian Open, where the 22-year-old has returned as last year’s runner up. Zheng isn’t one to shy away from letting her disappointment show after a defeat, but she appeared placid on Sunday against Anca Todoni after securing a 7-6 (3), 6-1 victory against the qualifier.
“Doesn’t matter if I win or I lost, I always give a handshake,” she said after her first-round victory. “But not always I give a handshake with a smiley face. This I know (about) myself.”
ZHENG QINWEN: Well, I always give a handshake to my opponent because I feel that’s the basic respect. Doesn’t matter if I win or I lost, I always give a handshake.
But not always I give a handshake with a smiley face. This I know (about) myself.
Usually I don’t often give a hug to my opponent as well, because I feel that is not necessary for me. I just come here for play a match. If I lost, I will give you just a basic respect and that’s it.
That’s why you will not see me lose one match with a happy face to the opponent. If you saw that on me, that is very strange, which means I don’t care about that match on that day! (laughter)
Zheng’s hyper-competitive outlook has taken her to world No. 5 in the rankings, but it hasn’t always rubbed players and tennis fans the right way. She’s no stranger to criticism for her version of drive-by handshakes, while her approach was branded as “cut-throat” by Emma Navarro after Zheng defeated the American at the 2024 Olympic Games. But the Chinese player was laughing in the end, as she went on to clinch the singles gold medal in Paris.
Unbothered by all the discourse, Zheng is taking it all in stride in Melbourne where she’s seeking her first major trophy. She’s comfortably into the second round, and awaits the winner of Laura Siegemund and Hailey Baptiste, whose match was rescheduled due to rain.