Sawt Falasteen - Cool-hand Qinwen says don't expect her to be a 'smiley' hugger

The Chinese star has earned a reputation among some players for being icy on court, with American Emma Navarro last year saying she felt "disrespected" by the 22-year-old, calling her "cut-throat".

Zheng's frosty handshake with Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open, where she failed to make eye contact, also raised eyebrows.

There was no sign of similar behaviour when she shook hands with Romanian Anca Todoni after beating her 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 at the Australian Open.

"I always give a handshake to my opponent because I feel that's the basic respect. Doesn't matter if I win or I lost, I always give a handshake," said Zheng, a finalist at the Australian Open last year.

"But not always I give a handshake with a smiley face. This I know myself.

"Usually I don't often give a hug to my opponent as well, because I feel that is not necessary for me.

"I come just here to play a match. If I lost, I will give you just a basic respect and that's it," she added.

"That's why you will not see me lose one match with a happy face to the opponent. If you saw that on me, that is very strange, which means I don't care about that match on that day."

Zheng enjoyed a breakthrough 2024, beating Iga Swiatek on her way to winning Olympic gold in Paris and claiming three WTA titles.

She is back in Melbourne bidding to become only the second Chinese player after Li Na to win a Grand Slam singles crown.

With her star rapidly rising, Zheng said she found peace on the court, but was also able to find solace off it despite the increasing demands on her time.

"I feel the tennis court is one place, it's my dream. It's like where I want to become better," she said.

"But also I can find peace outside of the tennis court.

"I love reading, I love singing. I feel every time when I sing, I am in that flow also, same like on the tennis court. When I am reading or writing, it is the same things."

J.Saleh--SF-PST