“I’ve always been waiting for this moment to happen. Honestly, at the beginning of the year, I’m thinking it’s going to happen very fast.
“Because I’m focusing too much on the result, I lost a little bit of patience in myself, and that’s affected my tennis.”
She earned the WTA newcomer of the year award in 2022, winning her debut at all four majors and making a run to the French Open last 16 before losing in three sets to eventual champion Iga Swiatek.
But Zheng had won just two grand slam matches this season before carving out a bit of history in New York, where she and Wang Xinyu became the first two Chinese players to reach the fourth round at the same US Open.
While Wang lost to Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova on Sunday, Zheng became only the fourth Chinese woman to make the last eight at Flushing Meadows – following in the footsteps of Wang Qiang, Peng Shuai and Li Na.
Zheng part of the “Li Na generation” of young players who took up tennis after the success of China’s first grand slam singles champion, who won the French Open in 2011 when Zheng was eight.
“When she won the French Open … the first Asian who won a grand slam, that gives a lot to a young kid, especially for me,” Zheng said.
“In that moment I start to think, ‘Oh, as an Asian, we are also able to win grand slams at a big stage like that’.
“Before that, tennis wasn’t so popular in China. I mean, my parents didn’t know what tennis was before I started to play.
“After Li Na, tennis become more popular in China … She also [planted] a dream seed in my heart that I want to become like that.”
Li also won the 2014 Australian Open, months after her final US Open ended with a defeat in the semi-finals.
As Zheng closes in on the trailblazing Li’s best Flushing Meadows performance, it was clear she strives to emulate and, perhaps, one day surpass the achievements of Asia’s first grand slam singles champion.
“Of course, I’m super happy to be here, but I will not use the word ‘surprised’ because I know what I’m capable of doing,” she said.
“I know if I can, I have to focus in the moment right here and don’t think too far [ahead]. I don’t want to have the same mistakes like at the beginning of the year.”
Standing in her way is Sabalenka, who will replace outgoing champion Iga Swiatek at the top of the rankings after the tournament, but Zheng is not one to shy away from a challenge.
“I always believe that I’m able to beat everyone if I play the right tennis,” Zheng said.
“Of course, the opponent will also play [well]. There is going to be lot of competition. But I believe that if I’m really there fighting for every point, I mean, things are going to happen.
“You can never say that, but we will see.”
