Gold Medal Carries Psychological Message

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, August 24, 2024Photo credit score: Matthew Calvis

NEW YORK—Zheng Qinwen made impressed historical past on Paris’ pink clay.

The Olympic gold-medal champion goals to keep away from ignominious historical past on New York’s arduous courts.

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A smiling Zheng soared into historical past sweeping Croatian Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 on Courtroom Philippe Chatrier to develop into the primary Chinese language participant to seize an Olympic tennis gold medal earlier this month.

The seventh-seeded Zheng faces a troublesome US Open first-round take a look at towards former French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova in a battle of massive hitters set for Monday at 11 a.m. in Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“The considered US Open is simply attempting to carry out as the most effective as I can each match,” Zheng informed the media. “There may be not many issues I’ve to say, as a result of once I notice if I simply focus match by match, that is the most effective I can do. Yeah, I can not assume too far.”

Australian Open finalist Zheng confirmed her talent for the down-the-line kill shot and aggressive calm roaring by means of seven of the final eight video games surprising Polish world No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 within the Paris Olympics semifinals.

Enjoying with poise and energy, Zheng made historical past reaching the gold-medal match in her Olympic debut. The 21-year-old Zheng snapped Swiatek’s 25-match Roland Garros profitable streak to do it.

Zheng can play with heavier topspin than a few of her Prime 10 rivals and is keen to wage lengthy baseline rallies. The problem for Zheng is adapting her expansive backswings to the US Open faster arduous courts.

Zheng mentioned her Olympic gold medal is a psychological security web: She is targeted on sustaining the lofty degree she confirmed in Paris subsequent week in New York.

“I had plenty of ups and downs after Australia, as a result of I say I misplaced some motivations, I am completely different within the apply,” Zheng mentioned. “And after I received Olympic gold medals, the very first thing I informed to myself is I need to hold the motivation on. I do not need to let myself slip once more.

“I actually need to enhance yet another time in my psychological aspect. It is imply how one can preserve the extent when you’re develop into a champion and simply to maintain profitable, profitable, profitable, as an alternative of getting relaxed and let your self lose simple match.

“If I am ready to try this, I believe I’ll actually break by means of some wall that I’ve for myself. I am simply attempting to work actually arduous on my psychological aspect. I want this time I can carry out as nicely.”

Ought to Zheng defeat the damaging Anisimova in her opener, she could be on tempo to face Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, whom Zheng defeated 6-4, 6-4 within the Australian Open semifinals, in a US Open third-round conflict adopted by a potential fourth-round match vs. Vekic in what could be a rematch of the Olympic gold-medal last.