Qinwen Zheng: Why Tim Henman is 'convinced' Chinese youngster will win Grand Slams after Australian Open
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Published 31/01/2024 at 09:05 GMT
Qinwen Zheng reached her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open as she was runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka. The 21-year-old has moved up to No. 7 in the world following the run and has been backed by Eurosport expert Tim Henman to win Grand Slam titles. Eurosport expert Mats Wilander has said he thinks Zheng will "improve massively" following her run in Melbourne.
'It was just a difference in class' - Expert reaction to Zheng losing to Sabalenka
Tim Henman believes Qinwen Zheng was only “scratching the surface” with her run to the Australian Open final and is "convinced" she will win major titles.
Four months after reaching her first Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open, Zheng went two steps better in Melbourne.
She wasn’t able to cap it off with victory in the final as she was beaten by defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, but she vowed afterwards to “come back stronger and better next time”.
The run has moved China’s Zheng up to No. 7 in the WTA rankings.
“I think she is just scratching the surface,” said Eurosport expert Henman about Zheng.
“She has played incredible tennis and this is a massive learning curve. I am sure it would have been painful to have been hit off the court [in the final], but I think with her work ethic and mentality and game, there are so many areas she can improve on.
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Australian Open final highlights: Sabalenka is champion again after triumph over Zheng
“She can improve her serve. The forehand can be a weapon but can be erratic. The motivation from getting to a final and losing I am sure she will continue working hard.
“If she is this good with all the improvements she can make I am convinced she will win majors in the future.”
Zheng’s run in Melbourne came 10 years after former Chinese player Li Na lifted the title.
Li, the most successful Chinese player of all time, was 29 when she won her first Grand Slam. Her second came when she was 32.
“She would have learned a lot from what Li Na has done over the years,” said Eurosport expert Mats Wilander.
“I think she will improve massively when you heard her coach talk about how hard she works, wakes up at 7am, never complains, will practice any time. It’s very refreshing to me.”
As well as making her first Grand Slam quarter-final in 2023, Zheng also won her first WTA titles.
The first of those came on clay and Eurosport expert Laura Robson thinks she could be a threat on the surface this year.
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'A massive learning curve' - Experts react to Zheng losing to Sabalenka in final
“She had an outstanding two weeks [at the Australian Open],” said Robson.
“She took advantage of a wide open top half of the draw. She didn’t play anyone in the top 50 before the final, but I feel she has the game on a clay court to do very well.”
Zheng highlighted after the final where she feels she needs to improve.
"Maybe I have to work more on my tennis, also work more on my mental side, work more on myself to be able to through this moment," she said.
"Because if you lose, there must be reason behind why you lose, and we have to try to figure out why and then come back stronger and better next time.
"I think I can learn more with the loss today, and then I just hope next time I can come back as a better tennis player and come back stronger.”
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