Catching up with Zheng Jie
Let's see how our 2012 ASB Classic champ has fared since winning the title in January
August 23, 2012
-
- Zoom this image
- Zheng Jie and partner Katarina Srebotnik last weekend in Cincinnati
Zheng
Jie
started
the
year
in
style
with
a
win
in
Auckland
at
the
2012 ASB
Classic.
She
beat
Svetlana
Kuznetsova
and
Flavia
Pennetta
on
her
way
to
the
title.
Since
then,
her
ranking
has
steadily
climbed
from
48 at
the
start
of
the
year
to
her
current
32, behind
her
4th
round
berth
at
the
Australian
Open,
a
semifinal
run
in
Birmingham
and
3rd
round
run
at
Wimbledon.
We
recently
caught
up
with
Zheng
Jie
in
Cincinnati,
where
she
played
singles
and
doubles
in
the
Western
and
Southern
Open.
She
and
partner
Katarina
Srebotnik
(2005 ASB
Classic
singles
champ
and
2011 ASB
Classic
doubles
champ)
finished
runners
up
in
the
doubles,
losing
to
2012 ASB
Classic
doubles
champions
Lucie
Hradecka
and
Andrea
Hlavackova.
Tennis Auckland: You
recently competed in the London Olympics.
How was your experience this year?
Zheng Jie: Of
course the Olympics are different every time. This was my third time
playingthe Olympics but we had a little bit of bad luck in the QF and
we lost to Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova (Zheng Jie and partner
Peng Shuai lost a tight 5-7 7-6 4-6 match to the eventual bronze
medallists). It was a tough match but I really enjoyed playing the
Olympics because you feel the whole country behind you giving you
more support.
You played an amazing match at Wimbledon against Serena Williams.
How do you look back at that match now? It was such a great battle.
I
very much like to play the grass courts and also on the grass court
playing Serena is a big challenge for every player because she has a
big serve so it's very difficult. I think I did so well in this match
and it was very close. I look forward to next time.
Do
you look at it and think, wow I played her the closest that anyone
did during Wimbledon, during the Olympics during the great run she
had? Does that make you feel quite proud that you're the one who got
the most games off her in her great run that she had?
A
little bit. I've played her three times at Wimbledon. Every four
years we play at Wimbledon! After the match, she told me 'oh you
played a crazy match!' I think it was a good match for us.I think it
was my best match for this year.
You've had a back injury this year and had to pull out of the recent Montreal tournament. How are you feeling now?
It's
a
little
bit
difficult
as
we
have
many
tournaments
and
travel
a
lot.
We
cannot
make
sure
every
time
that
our
body
is
healthy
but
right
I
am
feeling
better
and
better.
You
are looking to be in the top 32 seeds again at the US Open. How are
you feeling going into New York this year?
Every
grand slam is very important for tennis players. It's also exciting
and I look forward to it but I just want to try my best. Because I
played many years in the tour, so I know how to stay more relaxed and
keep things simple.
You
filmed a very funny video in Auckland this year with James McOnie.
Did you watch it? Did you laugh and think it was funny?
Yeah
I
watched
it.
I
laughed.
I
think
it's
different
style
for
me
for
my
friends
and
for
everyone.
So
expressive.
After
the
video
everyone
saw
me
and
[pretends
to
wipe
dust
of
her
shoulder].
It's
very
funny.
After
the
video
my
best
friends
called
me
and
said
'you're
crazy"
I
never
knew
you
could
be
like
this!"
We hope it didn't scare you away from coming back to Auckland next year.
We hope to see you again?
I
hope
to
come
back,
yeah.
I
like
the
tournament.
