Tim Henman stated that Zheng Qinwen will win major tournaments if she continues to work hard after reaching her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open. For the former world No. 4, there are several aspects of Zheng's game that can still improve, and her work ethic will lead her to greater achievements.
'Quen Wen' rose to world No. 7 and became the second Chinese player in the top-10 since Li Na. The retired tennis player reached four Grand Slam finals and clinched the title twice: 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open.
In a conversation with Eurosport, Tim Henman stated that Zheng still has much to offer in tennis and will continue to improve her already impressive game. "I think she is just scratching the surface. She has played incredible tennis, and this is a massive learning curve," the six-time major semi-finalist said.
“I am sure it would have been painful to have been hit off the court [in the final], but I think with her work ethic and mentality and game, there are so many areas she can improve on,” he added.
Henman outlined the aspects of Zheng's game that can be improved and emphasized the 21-year-old's mentality: "She can improve her serve. The forehand can be a weapon but can be erratic. The motivation from getting to a final and losing – I am sure she will continue working hard."
“If she is this good, with all the improvements she can make, I am convinced she will win majors in the future,” Henman concluded.
Zheng's upcoming challenges will be in the WTA 1000 Doha Open and Dubai Open, where she will enter as the 7th seed. The Chinese tennis player faced early exits in the first and second rounds last year, and these tournaments provide her with a good opportunity to accumulate points and continue climbing in the WTA ranking.
Qinwen Zheng will become the 1st Chinese woman to reach the top 10 since her idol, Li Na, when the new rankings come out. Her run at this Australian Open has been poetic. In 2014, Li Na became the first Chinese woman to ever win a Grand Slam singles title. Exactly 10 years…
