Queen Wen ready to fight for Beijing crown

Pressure is a privilege, and it only feels heavier when playing at home.

Warmly embracing her status as the tournament's poster star, yet carrying the weight of expectation on her shoulders, Zheng Qinwen knows what's at stake when she opens her 2026 China Open campaign as the undisputed favorite against her compatriot qualifier Shi Han in Beijing on Thursday night.

A deep run at her home WTA 1000 event would not only build on her resurgent form of late, following her US Open quarterfinal finish, but also pay back the unwavering support of her fans during what has been an arduous recovery from an elbow injury, as well as help enhance the appeal of the tournament, which is celebrating its 20th edition.

It seems like the perfect time for Zheng to bring out her A-game and deliver at a tournament as important as the majors for the 23-year-old home pride.

"I think to play the China (Open) is like playing a fifth Grand Slam for me. They are of the same importance," Zheng said during her pre-tournament news conference at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on Tuesday.

"Of course, I want to perform super well in front of my people. I have extra pressure, yes. At the same time, I also get extra support from all the fans, so I have nothing to complain about."

So desperate to perform well in front of her home fans, Zheng learned a hard lesson 12 months ago, when she was forced to retire in the third round of last year's event due to a recurrence of her elbow injury, which was exacerbated by her rushed comeback.

That decision took a heavy toll on Zheng's career upswing, pushing her back into rehab for another four months and sidelining her during the Australian Open. She resumed WTA Tour action in February, only to realize that it would take much more time than expected to restore the intensity and consistency of her game.

Despite her unwavering self-belief, the reigning Olympic singles champion had struggled to convince fans that she still had what it takes to be a top-10 player again — until she turned heads in New York earlier last month.

With two huge comeback wins against major champion opponents Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, Zheng fought into the US Open quarterfinals for a third time to match her best result at Flushing Meadows, before falling to eventual champion Elena Rybakina on Sept 9.

Now, with her body fully healthy and mind freed from the setbacks, Zheng is primed to prove to the world, and to herself, that she can play much better than her current ranking suggests.

"I know where I'm capable of being. Here is not the place where I deserve to be," said Zheng, who climbed back to world No 54 this week, all the way from outside the top 120 prior to the US Open.

"Of course, I believe I can reach higher. My highest ranking is No 4. I still believe I can do much better than that ... I know deep inside me, but I have to prove it," said Zheng, who reached that peak in June last year.

To join the best and, hopefully, outrank them all, Zheng knows where and to whom she needs to turn for advice.

With 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic back to play in Beijing's ATP 500 tournament for the first time in 11 years, Zheng didn't hesitate to seek guidance from the Serbian great, one of her idols in the sport.

Stricter self-discipline was Zheng's biggest takeaway from a recent chat with Djokovic after she ran into the six-time China Open men's winner at the gym.

"I'm still on the rise of my career, so I don't want to go too easy on myself, or slow down too much. I need to be more disciplined in my diet, sleep and daily routines," said Zheng, who shared Olympic glory with Djokovic at Paris 2024, where they both won gold in their respective singles competitions.

"Djokovic told me that great players require full-range discipline in every detail of their lives, and his words motivate me greatly."

Still, a little bit of fun off the court now and then won't hurt — like enjoying herself by trying on a fashionable new outfit specifically designed for her home appearance and singing some of her favorite pop songs together with fans during a meet-and-greet event organized by her sponsor, Nike, at Beijing's Wangfujing shopping area on Monday.

And she's happy to share her fashion tips with even her fiercest competitors, such as Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka, after the on-court battles are settled.

"Of course, they could go downtown to Sanlitun and visit some local designer stores," Zheng said, referring to an earlier request from Sabalenka, who was asking for shopping recommendations.

"You can buy the international brands in other places, but I think it would be very special to buy something with Chinese characteristics."

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn