After defeating Naomi Osaka in straight sets in the Italian Open’s fourth round, Zheng Qinwen of China showered her with admiration. Months before making her remarks, Zheng had accused her former coach, Wim Fissette, of breaking their contract by joining Osaka’s coaching staff.
Osaka had taken a vacation from the tour to give birth to her first child; therefore, this was her first time competing in the WTA 1000 event in three years. In the tournament’s first three rounds, she triumphed over players like Clara Burel, Marta Kostyuk, and Daria Kasatkina, respectively.
Zheng, on the other hand, received a bye in the first round and proceeded to the quarterfinals by quickly defeating Shelby Rogers, Linda Noskova, and Osaka. Zheng emphasized Osaka’s tenacity during her on-court interview and also discussed why it is challenging to play against a rival like the former World No. 1.
She expressed her remarks about Osaka and said: “I know she’s always really tough to beat. Doesn’t matter what surface it is. She has won a lot of grand slam titles before. It’s not easy to come back; to be a mother, I always have a lot of respect for players like this.”
She added: “I think today I tried to give everything on court. I’m proud of myself. I want to also say to Naomi that she did well because not all players have this mentality to come back as mothers.”
Qinwen Zheng had kind words for Naomi Osaka after beating her in Rome:
“I know she’s always really tough to beat. Doesn’t matter what surface. She won a lot of grand slam titles before. It’s not easy to come back, to be a mother, I always have a lot of respect for players like… pic.twitter.com/hBcDYH79bk
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 13, 2024
Zheng in Rome, ranking, and results in 2024
Now ranked no.7 (career-high), the Chinese has a composed 18-8 record in 2024. The Chinese is participating in Rome where she beat the world no.398 Shelby Rogers 6-2 6-0, the world no.29 Linda Noskova 3-6 6-1 6-2 and the world no.173 Naomi Osaka 6-2 6-4.
Qinwen Zheng will compete against the world no.3 Coco Gauff in the quarter. In the past, they have never competed against each other till now on the main tour.
The Chinese was the finalist at the Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka in 2024
Ranked no.173, Osaka played her last match on the 13th of May when she surrendered to world no.7 Qinwen Zheng 6-2 6-4 in the 4th round in Rome (draw).
During this season Naomi owns a 12-9 match record.
Qinwen Zheng and Naomi Osaka fought against each other only twice. Their actual record is 1-1. The last time they squared off, Qinwen Zheng won 6-2 6-4 in the 4th round in Rome (Internazionali BNL d’Italia) on the 13th of May 2024.
Here are the highlights.
