Zheng Qinwen admits she definitely felt coach Pere Riba's absence at the start of 2025 as the Chinese says her coach makes her work extremely hard and suggests that is the regime under which she thrives.
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After posting a great 2024 season and finishing it by just narrowly capturing her first WTA Finals title, the world No. 9 saw her Australian Open run being stunningly ended by Laura Siegemund in the second round. Then, two more disappointing results followed after the 2024 Paris Olympics lost her openers in Doha and Dubai.
However, during those first three tournaments of the year, Zheng was without coach Riba, who was recovering from hip surgery he underwent in the offseason. Also, the 22-year-old dealt with some kind of a physical issue.
However, since the return of the Spanish coach at the start of this month, the Chinese reached the Indian Wells quarterfinal and also made a winning start in Miami after ousting Lauren Davis 6-1 7-5 on Thursday.
Zheng: I missed the most Riba pushing me hard on the court, not allowing me to relax
I think the thing I missed the most is that he always pushes me hard on court. He doesnt allow me to get relaxed. Thats why I can keep going forward. When he wasnt there for those three months, I had trouble with my body... I wasnt able to practice 100%. Now it seems like Im going in a good direction," the former world No. 5 explained in her on-court Miami interview after beating Davis.
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Zheng's start to the year was concerning but now she appears to be on the right track to quickly rediscover the game that made her one of the best players in the game last year.
In her next Miami match, she plays against either Yulia Putintseva or Taylor Townsend.
