HSBC CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 13, 2025

Zheng Qinwen

Queens Club

Press Conference

ZHENG Q./E. Raducanu

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Through to the semifinals. Obviously tough playing Emma here in the UK. Give us your overall thoughts of the match.

ZHENG QINWEN: Yeah, it was very tough match for me, especially play in front of all the British crowd. It was good win for me and my first semifinal in the grass court. I'm really happy today (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How did you kind of persevere at the start of that second set when it looked like Emma was really finding her groove?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, you know, it was tricky the second set, because she called the physio after the first set. I feel, you know, my focus was dropping that moment, and I gave her lot of easy mistake, especially I remember in my first game the second set, I didn't put any first serve on court.

Suddenly that was really tough, but I'm just happy I got my focus back. Didn't wait until the third set. It was a great change for me.

Q. I know you talked a bit about it on court out there. What was the issue with the shoes?

ZHENG QINWEN: Yes, because I still don't know when I have to change my shoes on grass. I have been using these shoes for a long time. So you guys see I slipped already three times after two games during the match.

After that slip, I say, I have to go change the shoes or I'm gonna break my leg. But I didn't know the crowd was so unhappy about my changing shoes. You know, it's not what I can control that. But I think I performance better than when I was younger, because I keep my attitude really good. That was impressive for me.

Then, you know, it was not easy for me today to play in front of all the British crowd.

Q. Emma Raducanu has had a problem with her lower back. As a tennis player, how difficult is it to play when that region is inflamed or in pain?

ZHENG QINWEN: You know, I always respect to her, because I always believe she's a really good players. I know her since we were junior, and I know she's also have Chinese and sometimes I will talk Chinese with her.

It was really tough opponent for me, so I gave everything on court as I can today, and it's not going to be the last time I met her. For sure I will meet her more time in the future, and then let's see how it goes.

Q. I don't know if this has been asked before, but what has helped you to feel better on clay this year and to feel like your game suits it more this year?

ZHENG QINWEN: Sorry, I don't understand your question.

Q. This is your first semifinal on grass.

ZHENG QINWEN: Yeah.

Q. What has helped you to feel better on this surface, and how have you improved on it this year?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think just keep fighting, because, you know, for the first match, no one is feeling great, because we don't get lot of chance to practice on the grass, besides British player. I'm sure you guys born to play grass.

So I was feeling better and better during the match. I start to know how I have to move on the grass court, which shot I need to attack, which shot I need to defend. I just believe in the grass season, the best improvement I can get is not during the practice; it's during the match.

Q. What bits of your game do you think work well on grass at the moment, and what bits are a struggle and things that you have to improve?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think in the grass court, the most important is to serve and return. Once you can make that and then focus on the next two shot, because on grass there is not many rallies, you will get lot of advantage.

And especially, I would like to play more aggressive. But in the same time, knowing on grass I also needs to defends, because I remember last year that I only attack, I didn't defend nothing on grass. That's why I think that's in performance the best.

So this year I'm still trying to find my game, and I would like to go more forward to the net if I can.

Q. On your serve, in the past, your serve toss was sometimes had, it kind of stopped, but now it seems a lot more smooth. What has it been like working on that and improving your serve?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think just, you know, keep going. Somebody ask me why suddenly I was doing that, and actually, I answered to them, I don't know why that happens.

So after that happens to me, I try to work hard to don't get that strange movement, you know, keep going every day, just to work five minutes. Seems like it's working, but of course my serve still have big margin to improve. I believe I could do it much better than right now.