Zheng Qinwen’s latest breakthrough on the women’s tour has tennis experts predicting even bigger things for the Chinese star in 2024.
Last weekend Zheng won the WTA 500 title in Zhengzhou, her first tour-level title in China and the biggest of her career.
The 21-year-old sits at a career-high ranking of world No.19, a position former Australian pro Nicole Pratt believes Zheng can improve upon next season.
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"She for me is top 10, for sure, in 2024, if she can stay healthy,” Pratt said in this week’s episode of The AO Show podcast.
"It looks like physically (she's) quite resilient, robust. She's done a lot of work, put miles in the legs.
"She's an exciting player.”
Zheng has been one of the game’s most in-form players since Wimbledon, winning 17 of 22 matches.
She captured her first WTA title in Palermo before recording her best Grand Slam result at the US Open, where she upset world No.5 Ons Jabeur – one of three top-10 wins in 2023 – to reach her first major quarterfinal.
MORE: “Queenwen” Zheng upsets Jabeur, reaches first Slam quarterfinal
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
In September, Wim Fissette ended their coaching relationship in order to resume working with Naomi Osaka, the former world No.1 who is preparing to return to tennis in January after becoming a mother.
"(It) speaks volumes to her mentality, her belief in herself, that regardless of who's with her, that she's going to continue to win,” Pratt said of Zheng’s subsequent triumph in Zhengzhou.
"And win at home, is important (to note) too. Because if you talk about pressure, for Chinese players in particular, at home, it's very meaningful to play there.”
Zheng will continue competing in China after qualifying for next week’s WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, where she will conclude her season.
Attention will then turn to the Australian Open where, as observed by high-performance coach and data analyst Simon Rea, she made quite the impression earlier this year.
"I remember reflecting back on her performance at the AO back in January; we recognised what a phenomenal weapon she had on the forehand side,” observed Rea on the same episode of The AO Show.
Indeed, Zheng produced the heaviest forehand of all women who made it past the first round at AO 2023, ranked No.1 in spin (2,699 rpm) while among the top 10 for speed (122.6 km/h) – measurements approaching those of an average ATP player.
It all bodes well ahead of Australian Open 2024, where she will be competing on 10th anniversary of idol Li Na’s 2014 triumph.
