Zheng dares to dream of slam glory
Source: Agencies |
January 27, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ZHENG Jie was overawed during her first grand slam semifinal at Wimbledon two years ago but after making her second at the Australian Open yesterday she feels capable of winning the title.
"(It's) very amazing for me," Zheng said in a courtside interview at the Rod Laver Arena.
"I won my first title in the doubles in 2006 on this court, so I feel this court is lucky for me and I hope I can go further forward," she added, referring to her doubles championship partnered with Yan Zi, China's first grand slam title.
The diminutive 26-year-old became China's first grand slam semifinalist at the All-England Club in 2008, a feat that marked another milestone in her country's rapid improvement in the game.
Over-excited, she lost in straight sets to Serena Williams and spent the next year battling with the hopes of a nation of 1.3 billion to recapture her best form.
"I feel a bit calmer than the last time I made a semifinal," said Zheng, after thrashing unseeded Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-3 to set up a clash against Belgium's Justine Henin.
"At Wimbledon, I didn't have enough confidence. I didn't have that 'must-win' attitude... I didn't think it was possible for me to make the last four and meet the best players. Now, it's different, it's not like last time where I was 'ugh, I don't know what to do, but I'll just do it'.
"Now, I feel like whoever makes the last four has a chance of winning it."
The 35th-ranked Zheng, a feisty counter-puncher who has upset a string of more fancied players to meet Henin, continued China's red letter week at Melbourne Park, where compatriot Li Na will face Venus Williams for a place in the other semifinal today.
"Justine is my favorite player," said Zheng. "I'm lucky I can play against my favorite player, and I just want to enjoy the tennis."
The two share similar traits: Both are not very tall but very quick on their feet. When asked how their styles differ, Zheng thought a second and said, "No difference." Both have been working to improve upon a common weakness - their serve.
After early exits at last year's grand slams, she called on the services of super coach Nick Bollettieri to hone her game and re-build her belief.
Bollettieri, who has schooled the likes of the Williams sisters and Andre Agassi, went to Beijing for two weeks to work with Zheng before the Australian Open.
"But I always feel the time with him is too short!" she said.
"Working with him has given me a lot more confidence. When we're training, he's always telling me 'you love the big points, you play the big points well!'
"I hope he can make more time to come out and help me work on my return, lift my game and follow me around the tour."
Zheng, whose semifinal appearance will guarantee she breaks into the top 20 again when the updated rankings come out next week, has bigger ideas.
"Actually, at the start of this year I just hoped I could make the top 30, so I could get a seeding at the big tournaments and go a bit further at them. It seems now I'll have to re-evaluate my goals," she beamed.
"(It's) very amazing for me," Zheng said in a courtside interview at the Rod Laver Arena.
"I won my first title in the doubles in 2006 on this court, so I feel this court is lucky for me and I hope I can go further forward," she added, referring to her doubles championship partnered with Yan Zi, China's first grand slam title.
The diminutive 26-year-old became China's first grand slam semifinalist at the All-England Club in 2008, a feat that marked another milestone in her country's rapid improvement in the game.
Over-excited, she lost in straight sets to Serena Williams and spent the next year battling with the hopes of a nation of 1.3 billion to recapture her best form.
"I feel a bit calmer than the last time I made a semifinal," said Zheng, after thrashing unseeded Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-3 to set up a clash against Belgium's Justine Henin.
"At Wimbledon, I didn't have enough confidence. I didn't have that 'must-win' attitude... I didn't think it was possible for me to make the last four and meet the best players. Now, it's different, it's not like last time where I was 'ugh, I don't know what to do, but I'll just do it'.
"Now, I feel like whoever makes the last four has a chance of winning it."
The 35th-ranked Zheng, a feisty counter-puncher who has upset a string of more fancied players to meet Henin, continued China's red letter week at Melbourne Park, where compatriot Li Na will face Venus Williams for a place in the other semifinal today.
"Justine is my favorite player," said Zheng. "I'm lucky I can play against my favorite player, and I just want to enjoy the tennis."
The two share similar traits: Both are not very tall but very quick on their feet. When asked how their styles differ, Zheng thought a second and said, "No difference." Both have been working to improve upon a common weakness - their serve.
After early exits at last year's grand slams, she called on the services of super coach Nick Bollettieri to hone her game and re-build her belief.
Bollettieri, who has schooled the likes of the Williams sisters and Andre Agassi, went to Beijing for two weeks to work with Zheng before the Australian Open.
"But I always feel the time with him is too short!" she said.
"Working with him has given me a lot more confidence. When we're training, he's always telling me 'you love the big points, you play the big points well!'
"I hope he can make more time to come out and help me work on my return, lift my game and follow me around the tour."
Zheng, whose semifinal appearance will guarantee she breaks into the top 20 again when the updated rankings come out next week, has bigger ideas.
"Actually, at the start of this year I just hoped I could make the top 30, so I could get a seeding at the big tournaments and go a bit further at them. It seems now I'll have to re-evaluate my goals," she beamed.
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