That’s partly because there don’t seem to be any ceilings to Zheng’s ambition. She says she’s not on tour to make friends, and she acts as if she can, and eventually will, beat every opponent she faces. In 2024, that included Iga Swiatek for the first time.
To keep rising, though, she needs to be more consistent against the WTA’s rank and file, too. After making the final in Melbourne in January, Zheng didn’t reach another semifinal until July. She understands now how every loss makes your opponents fear you a little less.
“Maybe one, two, three tournament you let yourself down, you don’t play serious, then suddenly all the respect is gone,” she says.
Zheng played well when she was motivated—at the start of the year, at the Olympics, and during the Asian swing. In 2025, she’ll need to maintain that intensity and professionalism for longer stretches, and to schedule her year so she peaks for all four majors, rather than just one.—Steve Tignor
