A hero at home: Wuhan honours Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen with tennis school

A school in China now bears the name of World No. 5 Zheng Qinwen, a key figure in the rise of tennis interest across the country. The Olympic gold medalist has become a sports hero in China, following her stellar campaign in Paris 2024 and ending the season as World No. 5.

'Queen Wen' had a remarkable year, winning the WTA 250 Palermo Open, the WTA 500 Tokyo Open, and the gold medal in Paris. She also reached the finals of the Wuhan Open (WTA 1000), the Australian Open, and the WTA Finals. Her impressive end to the season secured her a comfortable spot in the Top 5.

From champion to icon: Zheng Qinwen honoured with school

Zheng’s success isn’t confined to the court. She has become a fan favourite, particularly evident during the Asian Swing, where the 22-year-old captivated audiences. Recently, she won the Fan Favourite Singles Player award at the WTA Awards. Furthermore, she was the 4th highest-paid female athlete in 2024, earning $20.6 million, trailing only Coco Gauff, Eileen Gu, and Iga Swiatek.

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Recently, the Chinese newspaper Titan Sport announced that a new school will bear the young tennis star’s name. According to Sportskeeda, the school will be called the Queen Wen Wuhan Qiseng Grand Slam Tennis School.

"The Wuhan Municipal Sports Bureau signed a three-party cooperation agreement with Zheng Qinwen's representative to establish the Queen Wen Wuhan Qiseng Grand Slam Tennis School at the Wuhan Municipal Sports School. Zheng Qinwen's father, Zheng Jianping, unveiled the school and will take charge."

Zheng Qinwen takes extra rest before 2025

Zheng Qinwen was expected to be back in action this week, as she was confirmed for the United Cup alongside Zhizhen Zhang. However, a few days earlier, she announced that she would delay the start of her season, as she needed more time for recovery before the new season begins. As a result, Zheng will return to the courts at the Australian Open in mid-January.

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"After the long season that 2024 was for me, I need a few extra weeks of rest, recovery, and good training to get ready for the new season," she posted. "I had such a fantastic time at the United Cup in January of this year, and therefore will miss the event greatly. Still, I am so excited to be back in Australia soon, and I will see you all in Melbourne in a couple of weeks."

Zheng will have the tough task of defending the 1,200 points she earned last year by finishing as the runner-up of the tournament (losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the final). While Zheng's appearance in last year's final was a surprise, this time she will be one of the top contenders.

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