We caught up with Qinwen Zheng as she prepares to make her United Cup debut with Team China, where she will partner Zhizhen Zhang and potentially play mixed doubles for the first time.
"Actually I don't know Zhizhen Zhang very well, but we've been talking a bit during the Asian Games (where they both won singles gold medals for China). That was a big achievement for him. After the Asian Games he did also very well in the Shanghai Masters; he beat like Hurkacz also I remember in Tokyo. He had those great matches.
“I think that will be great changes for his career. So I think this guy right now, he can just do everything. I think he has the level to beat everybody. Honestly I have this confidence; always for myself, so I always have the confidence for my team from China.
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"You know the first time I heard we will play against Serbia (in Group E), that was a shock for me. (I thought) no way! I haven't had a chance to play against Novak Djokovic – I'm super happy, honestly, to play against Serbia.
“I never had a chance to play any mixed doubles, not as a childhood time, not as a junior team, and also I don't have time (currently) – I don't really focus on those doubles. But I think United Cup mixed doubles is also one of the important parts and I think I will need some practice with Zhizhen Zhang to get some good connection together, to be able to play doubles.
TICKETS: Catch Qinwen Zheng in action for Team China in Perth
“That will be so fun honestly for fans to watch, because also for me, it's one of the biggest fun to play mixed, especially (against) one who is world No.1 and creates the huge history.
"For the moment I've been thinking more of the singles in Olympic Games, but of course, if we have that connection in the mixed doubles in Australia, we will obviously talk about Olympic Games for the mixed doubles (at Paris 2024).”
