The 2024 Australian Open was a career-changing tournament for Qinwen Zheng. She went on to reach the final, losing against Aryna Sabalenka in the summit clash to finish runners-up. It set the tone perfectly for Zheng for the season to follow, and she even won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. With the 2025 Australian Open about to start in a few hours, Zheng is gearing up to improve on her result from last season. However, she is set for an unpredictable challenge first up.

The Chinese star opens her campaign Down Under against Anca Todoni of Romania. The latter is just 20 and is still in the early days of her career. Although ranked outside 100 at the 110th spot, Todoni has had some big results in her career. Last year, she reached the second round of the Wimbledon Championships as a qualifier. She defeated Olga Danilovic in the first round before losing against Coco Gauff. Thus, Todoni has the experience of facing a top player on the sport’s biggest level.

Interestingly, Todoni’s Wimbledon appearance was her maiden Grand Slam main-draw appearance last year. She enters the 2025 Australian Open high on confidence after putting on good displays in the qualifying rounds. Additionally, she upset 21st-ranked Cristina Bucsa at the Brisbane International in the lead-up to the Australian Open, showing her giant-killing ability. Thus, Zheng would have to be wary of her first-round opponent when she begins her Australian Open campaign tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the memories of the heartbreaking Australian Open finals loss last year are still afresh in the mind of Zheng. During an interview, she revealed, “I feel right now a bit complicated. I feel I could do better but I didn’t in this match. Hmmm… That final brings me a lot of good memories, but also some pity and sadness because I didn’t take my chance. I would even say the sentence I ruined my chance because I feel I could do better. So takes me a while to recovery from that loss.”

Nonetheless, Zheng is training hard to win her maiden Grand Slam title this year. Ahead of the first major of the year, she made a candid revelation about her training routine.

Qinwen Zheng is never satisfied with her practice sessions

With top players coming from an off-season, rustiness is bound to get caught up. Despite playing the warm-up tournaments, the Australian Open offers altogether a different challenge. Moreover, Zheng is yet to play a match this year and the Australian Open will be her first tournament of the 2025 season.

Talking about her training routine, she said, “I always feel like my practice is not good enough. I always feel there is something I could do better. Always in the fitness side is the same. Treatment is the same. To the coach I say, ‘I think my backhand down the line is to improve. I think my return is to improve.’ I always come on the court with, ‘Okay, we are not good enough.’ I’m right now Top 5, but still far away from my goal.”

Surely, Zheng’s goal is to reach the World Number 1 ranking someday. For that, she would have to put on a good display at the Australian Open and begin her season with a bang.