"Don't think too much, just play": Qinwen Zheng confirms advice given by Li Na ahead of Australian Open showdown with Sabalenka

Qinwen Zheng reached her first Grand Slam final at the 2024 Australian Open and acknowledged that her compatriot Li Na, the 2014 AO champion, provided her with some advice before her triumph over Dayana Yastremska (6-4, 6-4) in the semifinals.

The 21-year-old tennis player has revived hope among Chinese fans, establishing herself as the country's top representative in tennis, both among men and women. Since her debut on the WTA Tour, Zheng has left a positive impression, solidifying her status as an elite player after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2023 US Open and the final of the WTA Elite Trophy, finishing the year within the top 15.

Zheng shared her thoughts on the match against Yastremska in an interview with Eurosport. Yastremska, who entered the tournament from the qualifiers, was the dark horse but couldn't continue her run, falling to the 12th seed Zheng: "The opponent started really, really good. It was a really difficult match for me to enter the final,” she said. "The feeling was incredible, as the real first time in my life to be in the final of a Slam,” the Chinese tennis player added.

The 21-year-old rising star ensured a top-10 ranking for the first time in her career after reaching the quarterfinals and guaranteed at least the world No. 7 spot after defeating Yastremska in the semis. Nonetheless, Zheng emphasized that her primary goal is the title: "That’s [been] one of my dreams since I was a little kid. That’s amazing; especially [as] we had such a great fight on court both of us.”

'Queen Wen' will be the first Chinese tennis player to reach the top 10 since Li Na. She is also the first to play in a Grand Slam final since the two-time Grand Slam champion Li Na. Zheng revealed that she was in contact with the former world No. 2 during the week and received some advice: "She [Li Na] already gave me advice a few days ago, she said don’t think too much, just play," Zheng said. "Even in the final, you still need to keep your focus and just play tennis,” she added.

Regarding her upcoming match against the world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion in Melbourne, Zheng expects to have a tough battle with the Belarusian and believes she now has more experience to face such a challenge: “She’s an amazing player; very stable for the last few years. Of course, I expect she's going to give her best in the final."

"It was different the last time because last time I was really new [to it] and I was not used to [it] and this time, I have more experience, played a couple of times on the centre court,” Zheng added. "So I just wish in the final that I can give my best and let’s compete," she concluded.