On January 4, 2024, Beijing time, the Chinese team ended its journey to the 2024 World Tennis Federation Cup. In the semi-finals of the Perth Division, the Chinese team lost 0-3 to the world's strongest team Poland. Zhang Zhizhen and Zheng Qinwen faced Hurkacz and Swiatek, and in the face of absolute strength, they were still defeated. While making people sigh at the rapid development and progress of world tennis technology, they are also looking forward to the arrival of the third Grand Slam of Chinese tennis as soon as possible!
Zhang Zhizhen and Zheng Qinwen competed in the United Cup
Chinese tennis icon Li Na has won two Grand Slams in her career, the 2011 French Open singles title and the 2014 Australian Open singles title. The 32-year-old retired from the Australian Open Grand Slam in September of the same year, and she also fixed her career-high world ranking at No. 2. As the first Chinese tennis player, Li Na has a brilliant record in Grand Slam tournaments. 10 times to the top 8, 6 times to the top 4, 4 times to the finals, 2 times to win the championship. And Zheng Jie, who is the same age as Li Na, although she won the top 4 of the Grand Slam earlier than Li Na, and also won the top 8 twice and the top 4 twice in her career, but she always missed the final, with Li Na's retirement in 2014, Zheng Jie also announced her retirement in 2015. The golden generation of Chinese women's tennis is over.
Li Na won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open
After Li Na's Australian net was blocked
After Li Na retired, the hope of Chinese women's tennis was pinned on Wang Qiang and Zhang Shuai, but the two are still a long way from Li Na's height. Zhang Shuai's best Grand Slam singles result is the quarterfinals. Singles has reached the quarterfinals twice, at the 2016 Australian Open and 2019 Wimbledon. Wang Qiang won the top 8 at the 2019 US Open. Both have failed to reach the top 4 in their careers and have retired or are on the verge of retirement.
Zhang Shuai is already on the verge of retirement
Since the beginning of 2020, Chinese tennis has gradually picked up and improved, and both men's and women's tennis have made great progress, and there are signs of collective outbreak. In particular, the new generation of Chinese women's tennis is becoming more and more active, Zheng Qinwen, Zhu Lin, Wang Xinyu, Wang Xiyu, Yuan Yue, Bai Zhuoxuan, Wang Yafan 7 golden flowers compete for beauty. At the beginning of the year, Wang Xinyu reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open, Wang Xinyu reached the round of 32 at the French Open, Wang Xinyu and Bai Zhuoxuan reached the second round at Wimbledon, and the US Open ushered in a blowout, with Wang Xinyu and Zheng Qinwen all breaking into the top 16. Zheng Qinwen is the Chinese golden flower who advanced to the top 8 of the Grand Slam again after 4 years.
Zheng Qinwen has become the new hope of China's Grand Slam
Since the start of the 2024 season, Chinese players have made a good start in the first games of all competitions. United Cup: Zhang Zhizhen 5-7 6-3 6-4 Lehechka, Zheng Qinwen 6-1 2-6 6-1 Vondrousova. WTA 250 Auckland: Wang Xiyu 6-1 5-7 7-6 Christian. Wang Xinyu 6-4 7-5 Putintseva. Yuan Yue 7-6(1) 6-7(5) 6-1 Day. ATP250 Hong Kong: Shang Chun Cheng 6-7 6-3 7-6 Jere. WTA 125 Canberra: Wang Yafan 6-4 6-2 Jones. WTA 500 Brisbane: Zhu Lin 1-6 6-3 7-6(7) Collins. The popularity of the first match also indicates that Chinese tennis will be prosperous in the 2024 season.
Zhu Lin is old and strong
Chinese often say: Lie down and taste courage, ten years to sharpen a sword. It has now been 10 years since Li Na won the Australian Open Grand Slam. Will the Chinese tennis players in the 2024 season be able to realize their singles Grand Slam dreams? Will it be Zheng Qinwen or Zhu Lin?