Gold Medal Carries Psychological Message

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

NEW YORK—Zheng Qinwen made impressed historical past on Paris’ purple 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 grow to be the primary Chinese language participant to seize an Olympic tennis gold medal earlier this month.

The seventh-seeded Zheng faces a robust US Open first-round take a look at towards former French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova in a battle of huge 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 advised the media. “There’s not many issues I’ve to say, as a result of after I understand if I simply focus match by match, that is the most effective I can do. Yeah, I can not suppose too far.”

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

Taking part in 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 successful 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 stated her Olympic gold medal is a psychological security internet: She is targeted on sustaining the lofty stage she confirmed in Paris subsequent week in New York.

“I had numerous ups and downs after Australia, as a result of I say I misplaced some motivations, I am completely different within the apply,” Zheng stated. “And after I gained Olympic gold medals, the very first thing I advised 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 facet. It is imply keep the extent if you end up grow to be a champion and simply to maintain successful, successful, successful, as a substitute of getting relaxed and let your self lose straightforward match.

“If I am in a position to do this, I believe I’ll actually break by way of some wall that I’ve for myself. I am simply attempting to work actually arduous on my psychological facet. I want this time I can carry out as effectively.”

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 remaining.