Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen opts for disguise to keep a low profile in China

Zheng Qinwen said her new-found fame since winning Olympic gold had made life in China so challenging, she takes measures to shun the sudden attention. The 21-year-old became the first Chinese player to capture an Olympic singles gold in Paris four weeks ago, an achievement which brought her legions of new fans. And after bursting into the nation’s sporting consciousness when she made the final of the Australian Open in January, Zheng said her gold medal meant now “everybody in China” knew who she was.

“After the Australian Open, it was maybe more the tennis fans, they know me,” Zheng said. “But when I come back to the streets now in China, I have to put on my cap because if one person recognises me, there will be a lot of people come to ask for my signature.” Zheng’s profile will rocket even higher after she reached the US Open last 16 for the second successive season on Friday, with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Germany’s Jule Niemeier.



02:27 China’s Olympic athletes begin three-day visit to Hong Kong But the Shiyan native said she accepted that as a public figure, the demands on her time would be become even more exhausting, something she got an early taste of after her win in the French capital. “At the airport I was there 1 o’clock, one hour signing because of all the Chinese people. I can’t reject them because it’s kids,” she said.

“Yeah, it’s a lot of attention. I realise I have to behave correctly, more responsibly. Of course, it’s pressure, but also it’s a chance for me to become a better player.

” Zheng has cut a formidable presence in New York where she has unleashed a tournament-leading 39 aces over three rounds. That raw power is a key weapon for a player who is desperate to secure a maiden grand slam title, as well as a place in the season-ending WTA Finals. After suffering a first round exit at Wimbledon to 123rd-ranked Lulu Sun, the Chinese star went on a 12-match winning streak which took in a successful defence of her Palermo title and Olympic gold.

Zheng put that success down to a new mature attitude on court which deserted her during a lean spell between the Australian Open and Paris. “After the Australian Open, I let so many chances slip away from my hands. There’s a lot of 1000 tournaments where I can take a lot of points, but I didn’t make it,” she said.

“So right now I feel the pressure behind me because I really want to play the WTA Finals for my first time. Right now I’m just going to fight for every single match. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a big tournament, small tournament, I will give my best in every match.

” Up next is the woman she beat to gold, Croatian Donna Vekic. Vekic saw off American Peyton Stearns 7-5, 6-4..