CHINA OPEN

October 3, 2026

Zheng Qinwen

Press Conference

ZHENG QINWEN/A. Kalinskaya

6-7, 6-4, 3-0 (ret.)

THE MODERATOR: Qinwen, congratulations. Very hard-fought match. Probably not the way you wanted it to finish, but you put on an impressive performance. Give us your thoughts on your own performance today.

ZHENG QINWEN: Yeah, was not easy, especially I was 5-3 up, then I couldn't get the first set when I had my serve on my hand. So takes a while to change a bit the mentality in the second set.

But I was just happy that I'm able to get the match, even she retired. But I felt like the match is quite on my dynamic.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. For you, when you pull these comebacks out, whether it was in New York or here, do you feel like the changes you make on the court are more tactical or more mental?

ZHENG QINWEN: I would say these two things cames together. I change, of course, a bit tactical, then same time helps me to come back with the mental.

But like what I just said, I was leading 5-3 up in the first set and with my serve. I kind of feel like I make the match difficult today 'cause I got lot of break point in the first set. I just didn't get them. When I had my serve, I remember I did two or three double-fault. I don't remember how many (smiling).

Yeah, at the end just happy to get the match.

Q. I'm doing a story about players who have yet to reach world No. 1 and yet to win a Grand Slam. For you, which one would you prefer to do first and why?

ZHENG QINWEN: There is no doubt for me always a Grand Slam, 'cause that's a dream since I was a kid. When I was young, I never thought about it to be a world No. 1. But I guess these things cames together.

It's like who has chicken or who has eggs first. I think this question is like that, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Chinese.

Q. Your first coach, when he saw your match at the US Open, said you are different. When you are behind, you have more motivation. Very different from other people. Today we're seeing you were turning the tables. Did you really find your rhythm? Is your energy back?

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, I think it's everything together. When I was behind, I didn't think too much. I was just going point by point.

To be honest, in the second set she almost 2-Love lead. She was holding two break points. When I was little, I have always been very competitive. If I lose a match, I would take a long time to digest the result.

Because of this kind of energy, this competitiveness, whenever I'm behind, I'm always trying to catch up.

Q. You served really well today. Double-digit aces. Can you talk about your serve.

ZHENG QINWEN: Well, for the serve, I don't see any ups and downs. There were a couple of double-faults, then several aces. They were offset so I can accept the results.

The key points, I need to be more determined. 5-3, my second serve, my first serve, whether I can be more strategic in my second serve, et cetera.

Q. I heard you were coughing. Also I saw you were using tissues on court. Is the cold weather affecting your performance at all?

ZHENG QINWEN: My physical condition starting from the US Open, I've had this cold. I've been coughing, which hasn't recovered yet. I've been using tissues because when the temperature falls, my nose, I need to use tissue. This is something to do with the inflammation of the nose.

Q. I don't know if you have noticed, the two matches of the China Open, it is the first time you played daytime matches. You started from 4. It was almost two hours. Can you talk about these two matches. Can you talk about the day matches and evening matches at the Diamond Court.

ZHENG QINWEN: It's like playing from day to night. In my perspective, I think playing in the evening is colder. There's a big temperature gap. When I'm playing the day, the first match, there was half sunlight. It wasn't very clear for me to see the ball. I need to make the adjustment in the first match.

Today it was very windy. The wind was blowing in the same direction.

Q. In recent years you've experienced a special China season from Shenzhen, representing China, the Billie Jean King Cup, and now you're at the WTA 1000 China Open. Before that, a lot of people are discussing, a lot of fans were making guesses, whether you would come back to the China Open this year. Now you're at the Diamond Court. For these two things individual representing China's team and also you as yourself representing yourself at a WTA 1000, what are the meanings for you?

ZHENG QINWEN: In the Billie Jean King Cup I'm part of a team, which includes other Chinese players by my side. I would feel that we're fighting together as a team, which is quite different than when I'm fighting alone.

In the China Open, it is an individual effort. You would only consider your schedule, your own timetable, your own competition. This is the only difference between the two.

At the Billie Jean King Cup, I'd been away from it for a while. Once in a while being on a team, it feels good.