“Maybe I change sport”: Zheng Qinwen jokes about golf future after Rome test

Zheng Qinwen acknowledged persistent structural issues in her game after opening her Rome Open campaign with a hard-fought victory, recovering from a third-set deficit to avoid an early exit. The Chinese player, who defeated Anna Bondar in her debut (3-6, 6-3, 6-4), now faces 30th seed Cristina Bucsa, with valuable ranking points at stake.

The win comes at a critical moment in her season. Zheng currently sits at No. 53 in the live rankings and No. 69 in the Race standings, reflecting limited match play following injury. A deep run in Rome is essential to stabilise her position, particularly given her strong historical record at the event, where she holds a 10–3 record and has reached at least the quarter-finals in previous appearances.

Zheng struggled to adapt to changing weather conditions, with rain and wind disrupting rhythm early in the match. She admitted her slow start compounded those difficulties, placing her immediately under pressure against an opponent she described as a “great clay court player.”

“I think today was totally different conditions compared to the days before when I practiced,” the former world No. 4 said to Tennis Channel. “The last few days were sunny, and today it was raining, with the wind constantly changing during the match. It was a really tough situation, and I started the match really bad, which made it even more difficult.”

Zheng identified her approach to the opening stages of matches as a central issue, acknowledging that her initial mindset lacks the required intensity. A single break against her cost her the first set, while things became complicated again in the decider, where she fell behind 0-3 before recovering, winning 6 of the next 7 games.

“When I was down 0-3 in the third set, I just kept telling myself not to think about the result,” Zheng said after the victory. “Just fight until the end and see what happens. Of course, I don’t want to go out in the first round because that would be very tough. I’m really happy I fought through, but I wish next time I can start much better.”

The issue extends beyond mentality into execution, particularly on serve. Zheng pointed to a low first-serve percentage in the opening set as a key factor behind her early struggles, limiting her ability to control rallies and apply scoreboard pressure.

“When I enter the match, my intention is a bit like, let’s see what’s going to happen, and I’m too slow. Then when I finally make the click and start to move faster with my legs and put more first serves in, things improve. I don’t know the exact stats, but I think my first-serve percentage in the first set was terrible.”

Zheng’s current form must also be viewed in the context of her recent return to competition. She arrived in Rome following a solid showing at the Madrid Open, her first event in over a month, where she defeated Sofia Kenin before falling in the third round to Elena Rybakina in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6.

That match, in particular, exposed ongoing inconsistencies. Zheng recalled missed opportunities while leading, reinforcing her assessment that her level still fluctuates within matches. While improvements are evident compared to earlier tournaments such as Doha, Indian Wells and Miami, she stressed the need for sustained match play to rebuild competitive stability.

“Since I’m coming back from injury, there’s always on and off during the match. But as I start to play longer matches, the situation becomes better compared to Doha or Indian Wells and Miami. I think I’m getting there, but I need more matches and keep fighting. Right now I feel like I’m starting from zero.”

Zheng noted that her court positioning early in matches has been too passive, often retreating behind the baseline before correcting later by stepping forward and taking control of rallies. “I think today one of the mistakes I made was staying too far back in the beginning. When I tried to step inside more, the game started to work better. I’m still trying to find that balance, aggressive, aggressive.”

Despite her current ranking position, Zheng has previously demonstrated her effectiveness on clay, most notably winning the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. That run included a landmark victory over Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals at Court Philippe-Chatrier, just weeks after the Pole had secured her fourth French Open title on the same surface.

Rome has also been one of her most consistent stops on tour. In 2025, she reached the semi-finals, defeating then world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka before losing to Coco Gauff, who would go on to win Roland Garros shortly after.

Away from the court, Zheng maintains routines that help balance competitive demands, including enjoying the city’s lifestyle. She highlighted simple off-court habits, from dining to personal presentation, as part of her experience in Rome.

“Every time I’m in Rome I try to dress up a bit better. I went to my favourite restaurant near the Bvlgari Hotel where I stayed last year. Italian food always makes me very happy, and the people here are really nice.”

She also reflected briefly on her newly interest in golf, suggesting her athletic instincts may extend beyond tennis in the future. “I was surprised that I have good skills. Maybe I should play golf, not tennis. Or after I retire, I go play golf. Who knows.”