Despite Roaring Start to Season, 21-YO Qinwen Zheng Reveals Concerning State of Mind Ahead of WTA Stuttgart 2024

Right before her Stuttgart Open match tomorrow, Qinwen Zheng revealed a shocking statement about her performance on the court. Even after having a good start to the season, she is not in the mood to rest just yet. During a podcast, the 21-year-old revealed how she is on her journey to “find herself”.

The Chinese tennis sensation started her season with a groundbreaking performance at the Australian Open in 2024. But during the WTA Insider Podcast, when the host asked her how she was feeling after having a major record-breaking performance at the finals, she had an interesting answer. “Yeah, super excited. I’m not there yet. I am still trying to find myself,” she responded. She further went on to add, “Because it’s just the beginning of the year, there is still a long time to go. And yeah, I am just trying to be myself and trying to not overthink too much.” 

Although Qinwen Zheng’s fans may find this admission painful, it is a poignant reminder of her unwavering quest for excellence. Before entering the 2024 BNP Paribas Open, she had the best result of her career. She finished runner-up in the Australian Open and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 7, making her one of the WTA’s newest rising stars.

Even in 2023, Zheng not only reached the quarterfinals of the US Open but also won her first two singles championships. Continuing her prowess on-court, she also became the first Chinese player to make a Grand Slam final since her idol Li Na.

And after her Miami Open appearance this year, she is now all set to meet her opponent, Sorana Cîrstea, in her first match at the Stuttgart Open. However, even after achieving so much for the past few years, Qinwen wants to remain humble in her journey to success.

Qinwen Zheng’s confidence is “always deep inside”

The 2022 WTA Newcomer of the Year has won eight ITF singles titles, one WTA Challenger, two WTA Tour titles, and one WTA Challenger. And after her powerful performance on the court, she earned the title of “QueenWen” from her fans. Everything could easily get to Zheng’s head. She clarifies, though, that she is too ambitious to be arrogant. “But you know, sometimes I was too confident, and it was not good,” Zheng said.

“I don’t want to think I am the best in the world; obviously, that is not the right mentality, but I don’t want to be too low that I am not good enough,” she further added. Zheng explained how she was still on her self-exploration journey. She concluded by adding how tennis as a sport helps her truly find herself amid the chaos.

In sports, winning and losing are only two sides of the same coin. And for Qinwen Zheng the pursuit of excellence is a journey of self-discovery and progress. Therefore, even though she is not there yet, her voyage is far from finished.