US OPEN

September 9, 2026

Zheng Qinwen

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/Z. QINWEN

3-6, 6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Sorry about the loss, but it's been a remarkable run from qualifiers to now the quarterfinal. Can you reflect upon just maybe, I know it's a little bit tough to think about right now, but how proud you are of the run just given that big reset you had in Florida to where you are now?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think the win that I had so far is great, but obviously today in the match I got lot of chance in the third set, but I didn't took it.

That was a bit pity for me to lost this match, but obviously I could take positive things from US Open this year.

Q. What do you think was the key today, what you could have done to win? What do you think you could have done?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, obviously I think that passing shot I miss make some difference, and of course I think maybe when she serve second serve, I could be more aggressive sometimes and make a bit less mistake in the return, because when the rally gets long, I think is where I get more points.

I mean, today is just few points makes the different. That's it. I have nothing to say.

Q. Congratulations on a nice run. How does your mindset as you -- I know it's right after the match, but looking towards the end of the year, the rest of the tournaments you'll play, how different does your mindset feel now compared to earlier in the spring where you felt you couldn't get any rhythm or really have a chance to fight in matches?

ZHENG QINWEN: I think the good thing is I know how to compete better than before than the beginning of the year. In the beginning of the year, I was a bit totally out of tournament, like, rhythm, and obviously this tournament helps me to find myself little by little.

In the match just today I think there is lot to learn when I lost, because there are some decisions in important moment I wasn't doing right. It was also very physical match for me. She got a great serve, and I think I have to be really focused to return every single time.

In general, I could take some positive things, and the rest I could go back and to do what I can do better.

Q. Congratulations on your run. What will you carry forward, expanding on the previous question, throughout the rest of the year into next year, especially having these great comeback wins and those 5-0 down sets.

ZHENG QINWEN: I think tennis also gives me a lesson all the time that as soon as the match is not over, you just have to keep fighting, because you never know what can happen one tennis game.

Second things is I think there are so much more I still have on myself to improve. That's the positive things. Yeah, no more I can say.

Q. We know how you're different tennis-wise from two years ago. How are you different personality-wise?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, I would say deep inside me I haven't changed that much. The things is after a injury, because I'm not doing so well, so I try to learn, like, a bit, hide a bit my character to don't show that much, because you know, when you don't have a good result, people just judge you.

But I'm just the same person. Doesn't matter if I win or if I lost, I think the same. I think it's important to be a good person and stay humble in life.

But sometimes people just don't like when you speak the reality and when you -- they like more when you speak fake stuff, but that's not how I am. I would say I become better. I'm more open compared to three years ago, but the base has never changed. I'm still myself, yeah.

Q. Congratulations. You'll get a chance to probably play at home in the next few months. How relieved or excited are you to have that opportunity, now having taken this momentum from this tournament now hopefully into the fall?

ZHENG QINWEN: I always am so excited to play in China, and especially I coming from quallying US Open and then reach until here. That was really, really difficult journey for me.

Of course playing at home always I'm more motivated, and also in the same time carry on some pressure, because I really want to do well there.

I just wants to say keep calm and just training day by day, focus in the match by match, focus on the present, because when your mind is trying to go everywhere, thinking too much, that's not helping for tennis.