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31 Days After Lashing Out at Naomi Osaka’s Controversial Move, Rising WTA Star Gets a Pat on the Back From Pam Shriver for ‘Flipping It to a Positive’

Published 10/31/2023, 2:03 PM EDT

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via Reuters

Facing hurdles and unexpected twists is quite common in sports. In a recent episode of the very popular ‘The Tennis Podcast’, WTA legend Pam Shriver appeared as a special guest. Shriver touched on many topics during the 1 hour long chat she had with the hosts. However, what became the highlight of the episode was her remark on rising star Zheng Qinwen.

Qinwen rose to fame quite a bit in 2023. She has climbed up to the rank of being World’s No.18. Although, this journey was not easy at all. Just last month, she had to go through a tough betrayal which indirectly involved Naomi Osaka.

Shriver’s comment about Zheng Qinwen 

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At the end of September, Qinwen was left without the support of a coach. Wim Fisette was the coach she got in touch with after he parted ways with Osaka. However, just after a short while, Fisette went back to coaching Osaka. This came as quite a shock for the Chinese star. Qinwen lashed out at this incident and even accused Fissette for breach of contract. Shriver addressed this situation as well as gave her opinion on this.

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Shriver said: “I think that Zheng Qinwen has raised the level of her game incredibly.” She also acknowledged how Qinwen turned her negative mark into a positive one even after dealing with such a great dent in her career. In her words: “I think she’s dealt with a loss of Wim Fisette as her coach to the Osaka camp.” Pam Shriver gave the whole life and lemons analogy before she presented Qinwen with her due credit. As per her: “There’s an example of turning adversity and flipping it to a positive and I give I don’t know where well, but I give her a lot of credit for that.”

The world of professional tennis has undeniably been marked by her remarkable rise in the rankings. The challenges she’s faced were quite tough as well. However, there’s another side to her that is the face of her country.

Qinwen is representing China

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Qinwen over the years has become the face of China in tennis. Off the court, Zheng Qinwen has been promoting tennis among young girls. She wants more players from China to dominate the sport. Her effort is a testament to the growing diversity and global representation in tennis.

Players from different parts of the world are now sharing the spotlight, contributing to the global appeal of tennis. Qinwen’s story is a reflection of this positive change, highlighting the fact that talent knows no borders or boundaries.

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It is quite commendable that Qinwen made it this far in tennis. Since the sport is still not very popular in Asia. Shiver’s support to the young champ is also quite appreciable. Zheng has moved on and decided not to talk about Fisette or Osaka. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.

WATCH THIS STORY: ‘I Really Love…’ – Naomi Osaka Points to the Ancient Technique She Relies on for Keeping Calm 2 Years After Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas Vouched for It

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Written by:

Charrvi Singh

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Charrvi Singh is a Tennis Writer at EssentiallySports. Having majored in psychology, she brings a unique perspective to her articles, often exploring the psyche of the biggest tennis stars. At ES, Charrvi focuses on covering the numerous intriguing developments in the personal lives of tennis stars along with topics that provide readers with the different aspects of their favorite sports personalities.
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Edited by:

Debmallya Chakraborty