CHINA OPEN

October 7, 2026

Zheng Qinwen

Press Conference

ZHENG QINWEN/A. Charaeva

6-1, 2-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on another strong performance. Could you talk about what you think you did well.

ZHENG QINWEN: I'm just really appreciated to won this match because been some ups and downs during the match honestly. But at the end I'm just happy to be on court and at the end get the win 'cause everybody knows it's my last day of 23 years old. I got some pressure to handle it (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. In terms of the three-set matches you've had to play here, the battles you had in New York, how pleased are you with how physically your body has held up through September?

ZHENG QINWEN: I would say the physically wasn't the best, but I'm still holding on. I had lot of three-set matches, like you said. Especially I got some good wins in the first set. I think I have to solve it, like to keep longer my consistency, longer my focus.

But in terms of endurance, I feel my endurance is quite good. Of course, there's always something I could improve physically.

I would not say I'm sick, because I just have those coughing and still didn't find the reason why. I've been since like this in US Open. Was very weird.

Let's see what's going on in the next few days.

Q. Can I ask you since you do have the off day tomorrow how you plan to celebrate your birthday?

ZHENG QINWEN: I hope my team prepare good birthday gift for me because I remember, like, two years, last year, they prepare my birthday gift the day before, which is I'm not happy about. You didn't take care of my birthday (smiling). This year I mention very early, so I think they got good present for me, which I'm really excited.

Yeah, tomorrow I thought I will be playing, but I didn't know, I was quite surprised of it. I can't went to the good restaurant because I have to be disciplined and simple in my diet. Let's see after the practice what I can do.

I think with the pressure of the match, there's nothing more. Let's just focus in the tournament and we will see what the God is going to give me in my 24 years old.

Q. Many players when they play their home championship find they love to do it but they also find it difficult.

ZHENG QINWEN: Yeah.

Q. What about yourself? Do you feel the extra toughness or pressure if you're playing in Beijing or Wuhan? If you do find it difficult, what do you do to offset it?

ZHENG QINWEN: I would say it's both way. I would also feel kind of difficult, but in a same time I also feel a lot of energy and support from them.

Years go on, I deal much better compare when I was 19, 20 years old. I felt like I really wants to win in front of my home crowd. This brings me extra pressure, but also helps me to really puts the effort, puts the energy on court.

I don't want just let the match goes. Even today wasn't my best day or even today I got some hard physical condition, like for example small injury. But I still wants to be there, fight till the end in front of my home crowd. I think that's the benefit part.

Q. After your comeback, people kept talking about find the older version of Qinwen back. Do you still feel you are building a new version of yourself or you're still in the older version of yourself?

ZHENG QINWEN: I would say I'm trying to be better of the old version of myself. I'm trying to upgrade, to discover a new version.

'Cause like I always said, okay, I did really good stuff when I was 21 years old, but that wasn't my highest performance. I felt like inside me there's still so much more that I could do it.

I'm trying to find out - tomorrow is my 24 years old - if I can do it much better when age pass, when I become more mature. Also mentally I'm more stable than I used to be before. I used to be very emotion at a young age.

I would say every year I'm upgrading myself. I'm also discovering myself. It's just year by year I being better and better. I think that's called develop.

I don't like to really compare with my past 'cause when I'm not doing good, even my parents, sometimes they say like, Before you're better.

I'm not agree. Your body is changing every year. You need to adapt with your conditions every year.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Chinese.

Q. What exactly do you want to bring to Chinese tennis?

ZHENG QINWEN: I hope what I can do is to bring my best tennis out, to maintain my consistency in every match, my energy, my attitude on court. I want to show it to the crowd, inspire more players, be it Wu Yibing, Wang Xiyu. I hope they can also play their best on court because it's a virtuous competition.

I joke with Wu Yibing. I think he still has a lot of potential to show to us. We can all work together and raise our level together.

Q. This is a really good gift for your birthday. After October 1st you said you are jealous of other people enjoying holidays. In your off-season, on your wish list, if you choose a travel destination, which one would you choose?

ZHENG QINWEN: This is a really good question. Choosing a travel destination... Or rather I would like to find someone who can travel with me that can make me happy that can make a meaningful time together.

The travel destination, every place has unique features. The most important thing is to find a travel companion. It is really difficult to find someone like that.

Q. There were some ups and downs in the match today. In the second set, aside from the fall in temperature, slowing of the balls, what did the opponent do? How did you turn it around in the third set?

ZHENG QINWEN: I do not see any pressure from the opponent. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself. In addition the balls were getting larger in the end. I needed to be more patient.

In the process I could feel my unforced errors were increasing, especially in the second set. In the first set I was playing really good. I was getting more anxious that I wasn't able to maintain that consistency. This is something I really need to work on.

I really need to maintain that level of intensity and consistency throughout the match.