Qinwen Zheng est en finale. 10 ans après le sacre de Na Li à l'Open d'Australie en 2014, Qinwen Zheng aura l'occasion samedi de l'imiter et de marquer l'histoire de son pays. Ce jeudi, la 15e joueuse mondiale a dompté en demi-finale la qualifiée Dayana Yastremska, 6-4, 6-4. Déjà quart de finaliste à l'US Open, la Chinoise a su profiter d'un parcours très avantageux, avec aucune joueuse du Top 50 sur sa route. Assurée d'être 7e mondiale lundi, Zheng se frottera à Sabalenka en finale, joueuse qui l'avait justement battue à l'US Open dernier. Pourra-t-elle succéder à Na Li ? "Elle m’a déjà donné des conseils la dernière fois. Elle m’a dit : 'Ne réfléchis pas trop. Vas-y. C’est assez.' Je pense qu’elle compte beaucoup pour tous les enfants chinois. Elle a donné beaucoup d’espoir. Elle représente beaucoup pour tout le monde." a déclaré Zheng au sujet de son idole.
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00:00 For sure the feeling was incredible to arrive at my real first Grand Slam final.
00:09 That's my dream since I was a kid.
00:12 So right now for sure I'm feeling really happy but I know there's still another fight to
00:17 go so I'm trying to control my emotion right now.
00:21 Not only is this your first Grand Slam final but along the way you haven't met a player
00:27 anywhere near the ranking of your opponent Savalenka.
00:31 How does that play into the build up to the big match?
00:35 I'm sure the final will be really competitive because I think Savalenka, she's one of the
00:43 I would say most big hitters right now in the tour.
00:46 She got the most big serve, most big forehand, big backhand.
00:50 She's a really complete player.
00:51 Like you said, I haven't faced a big seeded by all the past rounds and she will be the
00:57 first one I will face.
01:00 But you know, it's a match so let's see what's going to happen in the final there.
01:06 You said you dreamed about this for a long time.
01:08 So how does the reality compare to the dream so far?
01:16 How to say?
01:17 My dream is not just a final.
01:19 So that was just, you know, I'm almost there but I know this little distance still far
01:27 away so I would not say that I'm already there.
01:31 There's still something needs to go on.
01:34 Do you believe in fate?
01:37 In destiny?
01:38 You know, kind of?
01:39 I mean it's the 10th anniversary of Li Na, you're back with your coach.
01:44 There's a lot kind of going on that makes it feel like things are meant to be.
01:49 How do you process that?
01:50 How do you deal with that?
01:53 I believe in destiny.
01:55 Yes, I do.
01:57 Yeah, like you say.
01:59 But you know, I try to don't let another thing affect me, even if it's destiny.
02:06 You know, when everything is working well, I believe in destiny.
02:09 But if destiny doesn't go on my side, I don't believe that at all.
02:14 So it only depends where destiny goes.
02:18 Will you be talking to Li Na before your match?
02:21 Looking for any advice on how to handle it?
02:25 She already gave me advice last time.
02:27 She told me, "Don't think too much, just go for it."
02:30 I mean, that's enough I think.
02:32 So, in the last couple of years, I think you have made a huge progress.
02:37 So if you look back on the years, is there any specific tournament or matches which gave
02:47 you many confidence?
02:51 Or it could be some big decision making or whatever.
02:55 So is there anything turning a point of your career?
03:00 I would not say there is a specific match turning my career, because I think everything
03:05 just adds, adds, continues to add a bit.
03:08 There is no sudden explosion.
03:10 I think all the explosions are just a lot of work behind that.
03:15 So I think every match is important.
03:17 I will treat every match, you know, the same importance as always.
03:21 Because I think the details at the end make the difference.
03:25 I know we seem a little bit obsessed with Li Na.
03:27 I'm sorry.
03:28 No worries.
03:29 We love her.
03:30 Have you had multiple meetings with her in the last 10 days while you've both been here?
03:38 Or is it just once?
03:40 And can you just elaborate a little bit more on the influence that a player like that had
03:46 as an inspiration for your career?
03:49 The last time I met her, you guys already see in the video.
03:53 I mean, she means a lot, I think, for all the Chinese kids in the same age like me.
03:59 Because I think she's the first one who won the slams.
04:03 I mean, that's unbelievable for an Asian woman in that moment.
04:08 And then she gives a lot of hope, like in that moment, like young kids of me.
04:14 So yes, I think she means a lot for everyone.
04:18 Just a question kind of about experience.
04:21 On Saturday, you're going to play an opponent who is in her third Grand Slam final.
04:25 You'll obviously be playing your first.
04:27 What challenge do you think that brings against somebody with that experience?
04:33 I think challenge is everywhere.
04:36 Even if it's not her, I mean, there's still going to be challenge on my side.
04:41 Because you know, to arrive in the final, everybody needs to face the pressure in the
04:45 final.
04:46 Who can deal better?
04:47 And who can perform their tennis?
04:50 Who's the one who's going to win the match?
04:52 So yeah, I mean, that's one of my challenges.
04:55 I need to deal with it.
04:57 I will try to work on it.
04:59 And there's nothing more I can say.
05:00 I will say enjoy the final and let's fight.
05:03 Yeah.
05:04 Ben?
05:05 This tournament, Australian Open, does it have any special significance to you?
05:10 Just among, if you're going to make your first Grand Slam final anywhere, does Australia
05:13 mean something special?
05:15 Of course it's special.
05:17 It's my real first time.
05:18 And then Lin Ao won here as well.
05:22 So that can't be more special than here in Australia Open.
05:26 And we have a lot of Chinese crowd support me in the stadium.
05:30 Feels like I'm playing China.
05:32 I mean, that's amazing.
05:33 Yeah.
05:34 Any more questions in English?
05:35 Oh, Atheon?
05:36 Sorry.
05:37 Atheon and Ben.
05:38 Just you mentioned about destiny or like fate.
05:39 I'm wondering if you are kind of like a superstitious person or you don't believe or you don't
05:54 have any jinx or specific routine before the match or something?
05:58 I have specific routine.
06:00 It's just you guys never see.
06:03 Actually our team, we're a little bit obsessive of the routines.
06:06 Yeah.
06:07 But I don't want to tell more about the details because sounds too much crazy.
06:10 Okay.
06:11 Last one.
06:12 There you go.
06:13 Yeah.
06:14 I'm just wondering what you're going to do for the next two days, a little less than
06:19 two days until the match.
06:20 How do you think you're going to spend your time?
06:22 What are you going to think about before this big match?
06:25 I mean, I'm going to try to recover my body to arrive 100% to be able to run a lot in
06:31 the final for sure.
06:33 And yes, to try to study a bit the opponent and see what is the tactic going to be in
06:37 the final and to prepare myself mentally.
06:40 I think that's the goal.
06:41 [MUSIC PLAYING]