“Not surprising why players in the locker room don’t like her” – Qinwen Zheng’s ‘I kept focusing on myself’ despite seeing Mirra Andreeva in ‘frustration’ doesn’t sit well with fans

Tennis fans once again criticized Qinwen Zheng after her statements at China Open following her win over Mirra Andreeva.

“Not surprising why players in the locker room don’t like her” – Qinwen Zheng’s ‘I kept focusing on myself’ despite seeing Mirra Andreeva in ‘frustration’ doesn’t sit well with fans

Qinwen Zheng (Image via X)

It seems Qinwen Zheng has become a polarizing person on the WTA Tour. She is at the receiving end of criticism since the controversy with Emma Navarro at the Paris Olympics. Zheng played in the China Open and for the first time, she advanced to the semifinals in the tournament. 

The home favorite was then knocked out by Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4. Before the semifinals, she defeated Mirra Andreeva in three sets and after the match, when she was asked whether she noticed Andreeva was in tears during the match, she said she didn’t pay attention. 

YouTube video

I don’t know, I didn’t pay attention to my opponent because I kept focusing on myself because I felt like I played really badly today.

Qinwen Zheng said 

She added that if she had played better, the match would’ve ended quickly. Even after seeing Andreeva in frustration, Zheng did not think something serious happened as she herself has “played many times in pain,” and recalled how her “whole body was falling apart” during the Paris Olympics. She feels professional athletes need to learn to play with injuries.  

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Netizens slam Qinwen Zheng as they recall tense moments between her and her opponents

One tennis fan shared a post about Qinwen Zheng‘s statements after the win over Mirra Andreeva. The user then shared a screenshot that showed even Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic liked that post. Zheng defeated the Croatian player 6-2, 6-3 in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics. 

China Open women's draw
Qinwen Zheng (Image via Imago)

Check the tweets here:

Tennis fans can very well remember the tense moment after Emma Navarro and Zheng’s Olympic match. Navarro was playing her first Olympics and in the third round against Zheng, she ended up losing in three sets. During the customary handshake, Navarro exchanged some heated words with Zheng. At the press conference, the American did not hide what she told Zheng. 

I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor. I think she goes about things in a pretty cut-throat way. It makes for a locker room that doesn’t have a lot of camaraderie, so it’s tough to face an opponent like that, who I really don’t respect. 

Qinwen Zheng said

Check out a few reactions from fans:

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Zheng even shared a ‘cold’ handshake with Aryna Sabalenka after losing to the Belarusian in the quarterfinals of the US Open. Sabalenka later went on to win her first title at Flushing Meadows.