When the GOAT themselves acknowledge a young talent, it’s bound to be interesting. In a recent turn of events, Martina Navratilova spoke her mind about the up-and-coming Chinese star Qinwen Zheng. While Zheng is being recognized for her skills and phenomenal on-court actions, she still hasn’t reached the game she deserves. However, Navratilova seems to be quite updated with the new players of the WTA.

The 67-year-old also put forth her candid opinion about the coaching controversy involving Zheng. In the past couple of months, Zheng went through a lot of major transitions in her professional career. These changes don’t exactly fall on the positive side of things.

The troubles of Qinwen Zheng according to Martina Navratilova 

Alliances between players and coaches can be as fleeting as a well-placed ace. Qinwen Zheng found herself caught in the whirlwind of change. As she walked through the competitive landscape of the WTA, an unexpected coaching saga unfolded. This introduced an element of uncertainty to her promising career. Wim Fissette is a seasoned coach whose recent back-and-forth with Coco Gauff and Zheng raised eyebrows across the tennis community.

Navratilova, always with a keen eye on emerging talents, weighed in on Zheng’s situation. She said: “She is a big, big talent.” She acknowledged the Chinese star and hinted at the untapped potential within Zheng’s game. Navratilova’s perspective sheds light on Zheng’s resilience, stating, “She’ll be more than motivated by the surprising departure of Fissette.” The tennis maven expressed optimism about Zheng’s mission. She also emphasized Zheng as a formidable athlete in the making. 

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Navratilova said, “yeah, she’s a woman on a mission and she’s certainly the athlete to get it done.” The key, according to Navratilova, lies in the alignment between Zheng and her next coach and how deeply she embraces their guidance. Even though Zheng refrains from talking about the whole situation with Fissette, she has addressed it once. 

Qinwen Zheng about her situation with Fissette

The storm intensified with Fissette’s abrupt departure. Zheng, feeling the weight of what she deemed a colossal betrayal, expressed her feelings in this unexpected twist. She addressed how no one does this in the middle of an ongoing season. 

Despite the sense of betrayal, Zheng resiliently went with her determination to navigate through the storm. Choosing not to dwell on the controversy, she made it clear that this chapter was closed. 

There is not a sliver of doubt that Zheng has suffered because of this recent controversy. However, as Navratilova said, this will only make her stronger. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments. 

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