Ending his 2017 season with an opponent injured is beyond the imagination of the 31-year-old Peng Shuai.
In the group stage of the WTA Super Elite in Zhuhai, which ended on November 3, the wild card-holding Jinhua received a retirement gift from Russian veteran Visnina, and although she had no chance to qualify, she won her first victory in the competition.
For the veteran who almost retired due to injury, there are many more than she and even the outside world can imagine this season - it is quite healthy to complete the season, and the year-end world ranking returns to the Top 30, becoming the highest ranking women's player in China and even Asia...
From a serious waist injury to Nirvana, Peng Shuai's experience is like a bowl of real inspirational "chicken soup". In an exclusive interview with the surging news reporter, Peng Shuai said the most about gratitude and luck, and she still insisted on setting an example for the younger generation.
November 3, 2017, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 2017 Zhuhai WTA Super Classic Day 4. Peng Shuai in the game. Visual China figure
At the age of 31, she became number one in Asia
At the Zhuhai WTA Super Classic, known as the "end of the year", China's Jinhua Peng Shuai, who played outside the card, played two group matches, and the result of one win and one loss made her lose the right to qualify and end all the matches of the season.
"There's really nothing to regret this year." Even if the game is out early, Peng Shuai is quite satisfied with the past season.
Before the start of the season, she did not even dare to imagine that she could achieve such a result after returning from injury - not only won the second WTA singles championship of her career; the singles and doubles rankings re-entered the top 30 and top 10 positions, becoming the highest ranking women's tennis player in Asia.
In addition, Peng Shuai's current career total prize money has reached $8620736, surpassing Japan's famous Ai Sugiyama in the WTA total prize list, ranking second in Asia, second only to Li Na's 16709074 DOLLARs.
It was also Peng Shuai's outstanding performance this season that the WTA Super Classic decided to award the only event wild card to the Chinese Golden Flower.
At the age of 31, in the face of the new titles of "China's first" and "Asia's first", Peng Shuai has long ceased to be excited, but has more of a calm and calm.
Currently ranked 27th in the world, she said she doesn't think too much, "because everyone is working hard, maybe I played well this year, but we all have ups and downs." ”
For the ranking, she also looks more openly, knowing what age and what kind of way to examine herself, "Ranking is only one aspect, but it is not the only evaluation criterion." I've been training and treating constantly, hoping to get a little higher in the rankings. ”
Being able to overcome injuries from the brink of retirement and returning to tennis is enough to make her grateful, and winning and losing is no longer obsessed, "I have come back from last year, and I feel very happy to be able to play back in singles and doubles. ”
Peng Shuai in the 2017 Zhuhai WTA Super Classic. Visual China figure
The inflection point of life depends on "chicken blood" to insist
Peng Shuai said that it is not that he is "detached" because of how "detached" he is, but that after experiencing so many things, he knows how to face the next life.
"Two years ago I came across an inflection point that was no longer in my hands." The "inflection point" in Peng Shuai's mouth is the serious waist injury in 2015.
In order to be able to return to the field, she did not choose conservative treatment, but underwent extremely risky surgery, and even the possibility of wheelchair access for the rest of her life.
At that time, no one could predict what would happen in the future. "In a situation like this, all I can choose is surgery, but I'm not sure if I can get back at the same level as before."
Looking back on it so far, Peng Shuai still has a sense of powerlessness, "When there is no way, he can only rely on 'chicken blood' to persist." ”
She told the surging news reporter that at that time, there was a great chance that after the operation, it would not be able to return to the previous ranking and competition level, "So, I am also particularly grateful to be able to return to the field, and I can't complete the results I can do alone." ”
Luckily, "Inspirational Sister" Babe is back.
In 2016, Peng Shuai, who returned to the field, was a blockbuster. Not only did she win her first WTA Tour title and the "Best Breakthrough Award for October", but she also won the title again at the ITF Shenzhen Tournament in November.
In this way, it was as if he suddenly "lived to understand", and Peng Shuai, who had opened up, began to think too much about and be too obsessed with the future.
"Because sometimes the things you think about are different from the way you end up, so it's better to do it step by step, everything is the best arrangement."
Earlier, Peng Shuai announced the success of the operation.
Sick fans bring motivation and she is going to play until 2020
Returning to the court after the operation, the ranking also rose, all of which made Peng Shuai feel very lucky.
The 31-year-old is not young in today's rookie women's tennis world, but from the ups and downs of her career, she hopes that her experience of not giving up lightly can set an example for the younger generation of players and even other young people.
"When we were kids, we watched idols like Graf and Seles play, and although I was far from what they had achieved, I wanted to use my own example to set an example for the younger generation."
To this end, she has said more than once that she hopes to play the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 'I hope to be able to stay in the doubles until then, of course it depends on my energy and physical condition."
In addition to the wish made long ago, the appearance of a special fan has further strengthened Peng Shuai's idea of continuing to fight.
She recalled to the surging news reporter that in a domestic competition last year, a small patient with lymphoma appeared on the sidelines to watch his game.
When Peng Shuai's game was over, the teenage child came to the center of the field and said to her: "Sister Peng Shuai thank you, seeing that you have been insisting on treatment, gives me the courage and motivation to insist on treatment." ”
At a press conference a few months ago, Peng Shuai cried when talking about the sick young fan. And now looking back on that scene, she still choked up in her words.
"In fact, we were touching each other, I inspired him at first, but he also touched me later, so I want to use my actions to bring positive energy to everyone."
In a previous interview, Peng Shuai also said that after retiring, he hopes to help more young players and share his experience with them, "such as how to choose a coach, how to choose a game, etc., even a little help will be very useful." ”
Peng Shuai attended the press conference of the 2017 Zhuhai WTA Super Classic. Visual China figure
Go to Germany first to treat a knee injury, and aim to return to the Top 20 next year
Grateful for returning to the field, Peng Shuai still set a higher goal for the 2018 season - the world ranking returned to the top 20.
Judging from past data, Peng Shuai, who has reached the 14th place in the world's highest ranking, is not an unrealistic person. From the top 80 and top 50 set for herself at the beginning of the year to the top 30 set for herself in the middle of the season, she has achieved them one by one.
With a record of 43 wins and 23 losses this season, she surpassed Zhang Shuai, Wang Qiang and other small flowers to the position of a chinese sister, and the 31-year-old once again put forward higher requirements for herself.
Now that you're already enjoying the game, why put more pressure on yourself?
In the face of the doubts of the surging news reporters and most people, Peng Shuai explained with a smile: "I can't always set the target in the top 50!" ”
"The top 20 is just a goal, not a task, and I want to get to 25 or 23." She continues, "It doesn't matter if you don't arrive, the goal is to have a more positive mindset and continue to accept challenges." ”
As long as she continues to play, she doesn't want to make her age an excuse, "I'm getting older, but I still hope that my ranking can get more and more advanced." 」 ”
With the end of the season, Peng Shuai will also begin a rare vacation. She also revealed that she would first go to Germany to treat her knee injury.
"Because the offseason is about two months, I hope to get my knee completely healed. As long as there is time to rest, after treatment can definitely recover, because it is much simpler than (treatment) waist (injury), I have also communicated with the doctor. ”
After that, "Foodie Bei" also revealed that he would go out to play, let the tired body fully rest and then start winter training, "the whole offseason will not be so rushed, will slow down a little." ”