Qinwen Zheng had a wonderful last season. Not only did she reach the final of the Australian Open and win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but she also achieved a career-high 5th spot in the WTA singles rankings. However, the 2025 season hasn’t been the same so far.  After a tough Australian Open exit in the second round against Laura Siegemund and first-round losses in the Middle East swing, Zheng lost against Iga Swiatek in the Indian Wells quarterfinals as well. But hey she was navigating the courts without the most important member of his team, who is now back and the results are showing already.

The Miami Open 2025 is shaping up to be exciting, with Zheng impressing on the court. On March 20, she defeated American Lauren Davis in a gripping second-round match, winning decisively with a scoreline of 6-1, 7-5. In the post-match interview, the Chinese revealed how her coach Pere Riba keeps her on her toes!

Riba’s hip surgery at the start of the year sidelined him for a while, and Zheng was left stranded without her trusted coach. Complicating matters, Zheng had been practicing with an elbow sleeve on her right arm, which might be affecting her serve. However, she seems to be fully fit now and she couldn’t be happier that his 36-year-old coach is back as well.

When asked how Riba’s return helped her overcome her dry spell, Zheng said, “I think the thing I missed the most is that he always pushes me hard on the court. He doesn’t allow me to get relaxed. That’s why I can keep going forward. When he wasn’t there for those 3 months, I had trouble with my body…I wasn’t able to practice 100%. Now it seems like I’m going in a good direction.”

Qinwen Zheng and Pere Riba’s partnership dates back to 2021. Their 4-year collaboration, so far, has been nothing short of magic. They took a brief hiatus in the summer of 2023, during which Riba coached Coco Gauff, helping her achieve a stunning late-season run. But by December 2023, Zheng and Riba were back together, ready to take on the world. It was under Riba’s guidance only that Zheng reached her first Grand Slam final last year and claimed an Olympic gold medal.

The 2025 season has been challenging, but Zheng remains undeterred. Reflecting on her 2024 season, she got candid.

Qinwen Zheng weighs in on her 2024 season.

Qinwen Zheng was undoubtedly one of the stars of women’s tennis in 2024, with a year marked by both triumph and turmoil. She made it to the finals of the major tournaments, but her crowning achievement was winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris. “I would say my 2024 had many ups and downs, good and bad moments. There are many things to learn from. Obviously, the Riyadh final was also very good for me, but I could have done better in the final,” Zheng noted.

The Chinese star reached the final of the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, where she ultimately lost to Coco Gauff in a thrilling three-set match. Taking that as a win, she added, “There were many important points in the year where I didn’t reach my level, but that’s the nature of tennis. Yet, I would say my 2024 was a pretty good year.”

Emphasizing the importance of dedication and consistency, Zheng further added, “If you’re not a hundred percent physically, sometimes it’s difficult. When you can’t spend time on the court, there’s always someone who will practice more than you, someone who wants it more than you. It’s simply about trying to be dedicated. Focus on your practice all the time, no matter the result you have.”

Now as Qinwen moves into the round of 32 at the Miami Open, she’s set to face either Taylor Townsend or the 19th seed Yulia Putintseva. Will she make a deeper run in Miami? We’d love to hear your thoughts!