"I think she is much better than most of the main draw": Andrea Petkovic predicts 'phenomenal' 2025 for Zheng Qinwen

Former German tennis star Andrea Petkovic believes China’s Zheng Qinwen will have a ‘phenomenal’ 2025 season. The 22-year-old is already regarded as one of the best players currently playing in women’s tennis in the singles category.

Former German player Petkovic has been recently quoted in a report by the Tennis Gazette, in which she backed Zheng to finish in the ‘top five’ next season. The 37-year-old was of the opinion that the Shiyan-born star will have a ‘phenomenal’ year in 2025 and that she is much better than some of the players on the tour.

“My prediction is that she will have a phenomenal year, 2025,” said Petkovic. “I don’t think she will be able to repeat the Australian Open because it’s the first time she has to defend a huge result and I think she will struggle with that. I think she is much better than most of the main draw, so she will definitely make the second week. But I don’t think she will get as far as last year and then she will have a phenomenal season. I think it’s just an experience you have to go through one time and I think she will and do well, the fourth round or the quarters, but I don’t think she will repeat [the win]. Then my prediction is that she will end the season in the top five.”

Zheng has recently concluded an impressive season. The reigning world number five played 65 matches across all competitions in 2024 where she won 48 matches and suffered 17 defeats. While doing that, she won three competitions as well. Her last title triumph was Toray Pan Pacific, where she defeated America’s Sofia Kenin in the final in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-3. Her last appearance this year came in the WTA Finals in Riyadh where she finished as the runner-up after losing in the final to America’s Coco Gauff with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 7-6.