China’s young tennis star Qinwen Zheng has received high
praise from her coach Wim Fissette.
The 20-year-old is one of the breakout stars of the US Open
2023 as she booked her place in the quarterfinal of the competition after
beating the three-time Grand Slam runner-up Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the round
of 16 with a score of 6-2, 6-4 on Monday.
Zheng’s coach Fissette, who already worked with the likes of
Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, and Naomi
Osaka in the past, was full of praise for the world number 23 and believes that
she is a ‘super athlete’.
“First of all, she’s definitely a super athlete,” said Fissette.
“She’s strong and super fast. It’s really impressive how fast she is on the
court. Second, her work ethic is unbelievable. It’s really nice: two hours of
tennis per day, and also two gym sessions – it’s a normal day for her. It’s
really impressive.
“She does everything with a big smile because it is really
her desire, and her ambition – she wants to do everything it takes to achieve
the best. First of all, she desires to be the best, she’s willing to do
everything it takes. Athleticism is a very important one.
“She’s a very explosive player with a big serve and a really
big forehand. Also, the backhand is really strong. I think from her strokes and
athleticism there’s a lot there, but obviously she needs to grow as a player,
make better choices, I’d say on the hard court, and improve tactically. Her
game needs to get cleaned up a little bit. We need to get rid of some errors
and make it just a little bit clearer.”
Zheng will now face the newly-crowned world number one
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in the last-eight clash of the fourth and final Grand
Slam on Wednesday.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.