Qinwen Zheng’s 2024 season has been a whirlwind of success! She began the year as China’s No. 1 player at the United Cup, followed by a historic appearance in the Australian Open final and an Olympic gold medal in singles. Her achievements have propelled her into the top 10 of the tennis world. Amidst the ‘Qinwen Mania’ that has swept China, especially during her homecoming tournament in Wuhan, Zheng “has taken a different route” as the season draws to a close.

The ‘queen’ Zheng Qinwen has made history as the first athlete, male or female, to grace the cover of Vogue China. A few posts(by fans) on X revealed her glamorous full black dress, accompanied by white opera gloves and black pointed high heels. With her long dazzling hair open, she stands to pose against a brown background. With the “VOGUE” sign in the backdrop, the words “Being Queen Wen” in both Mandarin and English shine brightly at the lower end of the picture. 

The photographer, Wang Ziqian, captured Zheng’s bold fashion statements and outfits, styled by Vivienne Sun. While she has adorned the outfits of Balenciaga, Rahul Misra, and Nike in the past, her recent collaboration with Vogue and their photoshoot made her the “most satisfied.” Per her, “it shows my own understanding of fashion. Not only the cover but also the photos on the inside pages are my favorites. It combines the strength and beauty of athletes and also has a sense of fashion.” 

Further describing her love for the whole look, she said, “I really like the makeup and hairstyle that is powerful, elegant, and full of aura. When I stand there, I feel that the whole person’s aura is very strong, and I feel like a queen.” A familiar face in high-fashion shoots, having previously graced the covers of GQ China and Harper’s Bazaar China in the past two years, the 22-year-old expressed her excitement to showcase a ‘different’ side of herself in the November edition of Vogue.

“When I saw the finished film, I also felt that my eyes lit up,” Zheng tells writer Yan Xia, via translated comments. “This time I also tried a style that I had never tried before. I also hope that when fans see these pictures, they will feel that Zheng Qinwen has taken a different route this time.” Other players like Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, and Katie Boulter have already walked in the same footsteps.

Previously, she posed for Harper’s Bazaar, China (August cover), the second time in less than two years she’s featured in the magazine. There, she wore a stunning black coat (over a nude-colored t-shirt) and trousers! Moreover, her first Balenciaga Couture Show during Paris Fashion Week, almost 4 months back, where she adorned a cut-away boxy jacket and skirt/trouser, also turned heads. 

However, by joining hands with one of the top magazine covers, Vogue, Zheng, who is currently gearing up for a semifinal clash in the Wuhan Open, has once again solidified her reputation as a global sports icon! Moreover, besides the fashion industry, she is making strides in tennis as she is ready to create another history in her next match!

Qinwen Zheng opens up on her historic match with Xinyu in the Wuhan Open!

After defeating Jasmine Paolini in the QFs by 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, Qinwen Zheng is ready to lock horns with her compatriot, Wang Xinyu, in the semifinals. Interestingly, this is the first time that a WTA 1000 event is having an all-Chinese semifinal match! While the No. 5 seed is ready to tackle her opponent, she also expressed her happiness on winning her QF match and said,

“It was an incredibly tough match, and we both gave everything we had…I’m thrilled with the result and really looking forward to the next round.” Per her, in tightly fought matches, maintaining consistency is the key, and she did that throughout the match. For this, she admitted that she was proud of her victory!

Furthermore, Zheng added, “Reaching this milestone alongside Wang demonstrates that China has exceptional players, and our level of play is significantly higher than before.” Despite admitting how competing against her own compatriot can be challenging, Zheng aims to concentrate on her “own performance.” Be it on-court or off-court, Qinwen Zheng’s journey in tennis and beyond is inspiring fans worldwide!