Zheng Qinwen claims her friends used to get "upset" after she would beat them in juniors and that's when she figured out that keeping it strictly business on the WTA Tour would probably be the best thing to do.
This year, the 22-year-old found herself among the top-8 for the first time and competing at the WTA Finals. But after arriving in Riyadh and asked if any of the other participants were her friend, the Chinese tennis said absolutely no.
My answer is very clear, I always prefer to keep my distance from other players. There is a lot of competition between us. I am a very sensitive girl. I dont feel like I can become friends with someone and then have to compete on the court, I wouldnt focus 100% to fight," Zheng explained in Riyadh.
"As soon as I encourage myself, I would feel weird. Deep down, if its a friend, I want her to win and succeed in life. Its the opposite of what I think in a tennis tournament. Once I understood that, I decided not to try to make friends on the tour. There are so many people outside the WTA, why should I make friends here? I come here to compete with them, to win the match. Thats my opinion.
After making her position clear on friendships on the Tour, the Paris Olympics gold medalist also revealed that she never goes beyond a simple "hello" or "congrats" when she feels someone deserves it.
Now during a conversation with The South China Morning Post, Zheng clarified why she feels this way.
When I was a junior, if I beat my friends, they would get upset with me, because the one who lost, of course, you feel sad. So, little by little, I realized you can never make friends on tour," the 2024 Australian Open runner-up said.
Zheng admits she is 'obsessed' with Aryna Sabalenka
If not for the Belarusian tennis star, the world No. 5 would have likely achieved much more during her great 2024 season.
At the start of the year, the Chinese reached her maiden Grand Slam final at Melbourne Park - but stood no chance after Sabalenka routed her 6-3 6-2. In New York, Zheng was also doing well and reached the US Open quarterfinal before the world No. 1 handed her a brutal 6-1 6-2 loss.
After preventing the 22-year-old from becoming a Slam champion this year, the Belarusian also defeated the home favorite 6-3 5-7 6-3 in the Wuhan final. For the Chinese, it was her first WTA 1000 final and a chance to become a WTA 1000 winner.
Then, she suffered another straight-set defeat in their WTA Finals meeting. Overall, Sabalenka has a 5-0 head-to-head against Zheng and has lost only one set in those meetings.
And heading into 2025, the world No. 5 admits she regularly watches the world No. 1 because she is "obsessed" with finding a winning formula.
Before, I didnt watch too many of her matches, but right now, I like to watch every single one, because I am so obsessed to find a way how to beat her, because I feel its kind of the most challenging for me, the 22-year-old said.
In Wuhan, Zheng was the closest to finally beating Sabalenka. But it didn't happen and afterwards she confessed that she felt tension in some of the key points.
"I think watching the match, it became more clear today. I feel that I could only give myself 5 or 6 points. At critical points in this match, I need to increase my speed. I was a little bit conservative. The shaking of my racquet when I became conservative made more unforced errors. She forced me to see some of the weaknesses in my tactics," she said after the Wuhan final.
Zheng dreamed about being here
In the same interview with The South China Morning Post, the Chinese shared that she was 10 when she first dreamed of making a Grand Slam final. Now at 22, she has a pretty notable resume and a very promising future.
Tennis was my dream, because since I was 10 years old I knew my final dream was to be in a slam, to try and reach as far as I can, she said.
Now that Zheng is a star and one of the best in the game, she also realized one other important thing.
In tennis, we dont have to do it perfectly every day. We just have to find a way to beat the opponent. the Chinese noted.
Meanwhile, Zheng is slated to start her 2025 season by representing China at the United Cup.
