Zheng Qinwen buries past coaching split with Wim Fissette, praises Naomi Osaka in Rome

ROME, Italy—All eyes were on the fourth-round clash between Zheng Qinwen and Naomi Osaka at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, both to see a marquee match between two elite players and also to watch Zheng take on Osaka for the first time since coach Wim Fissette left the former for the latter last fall.

Zheng had enjoyed a breakthrough 2023 season under Fissette, reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open. But the famed coach known, for his work with the likes of Kim Clijsters and Simona Halep in addition to Osaka, shocked Zheng after her defeat to Aryna Sabalenka by abruptly ending their partnership to rejoin Osaka’s team ahead of her comeback from maternity leave.

“During the US Open I knew he had contact with the team of Osaka,” the Chinese star said during the China Open in September. “Right after the match, he said to me that he felt like he had no connection with me. He never said that to me before. Right after I was defeated, he said that to me.

“I felt very strange. I talked to my manager. I asked my manager whether he will go to Osaka's team. The manager said, ‘No, he wouldn't be that kind of person.’ But after resting for a week, he suddenly told me that he was going to work with Osaka.

“It was quite a big impact to me and my team members and my family. I cried after hearing that. There were no fights, no arguments in our collaboration. There was nothing new to me in this collaboration, but also he did not do anything wrong.

“I thought that was an unethical end to that collaboration. I understand that Osaka can provide a better offer to him. I understand from his perspective this might be a better position. He has a family to support. I understand his decision, but it doesn't mean I will forgive him for making such a decision.”

I have more respect to her because she came back as a mother. I think, as a woman athlete, that’s really not easy. I have all the respect for all the tennis players who come back as mothers. Only a woman knows how difficult that is...Zheng Qinwen

Zheng confirmed she was indeed boiling mad in the aftermath of the split, but the 21-year-old has gone onward and upward since parting ways with Fissette, rehiring former coach Pere Riba and reaching her first major final at the Australian Open in January.

“If you asked me this a few months before, after we break: one month, two months, three months, four months, I would tell you yes, absolutely. I got really fired up, I wanted to kill my opponents and get my frustration out,” she said in her visit to the Tennis Channel Live Desk.

“But if you ask me now, after many months, six-seven months already, I would say it’s just a normal match. I treated her like a usual opponent. Of course, I have more respect to her because she came back as a mother. I think, as a woman athlete, that’s really not easy. I have all the respect for all the tennis players who come back as mothers. Only a woman knows how difficult that is, so I treated her with big respect. Nothing to think more, just me against her, and I would give my best, anyway.”

The No. 7 seed indeed gave her best against Osaka, defeating the former world No. 1, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals for a second straight year at the Foro Italico. Playing someone as vaunted as Osaka also kickstarted Zheng’s motivation, something she confirmed was flagging in the wake of such a seismic result in Australia.

After Australia, there is a couple stage for me I lose the hunger. Also in the practice I was little bit not so focused in some stage. Then I come back with myself, over-confident. I think I'm right in everything. I have some fight with the coach, some fight with my team But after couple loss, I start to say, ‘Well, maybe time to change my mentality again because the things not going my way. There's something I'm thinking wrong or doing wrong.’ Zheng Qinwen

“After Australia, there is a couple stage for me I lose the hunger,” Zheng said in her post-match press conference. “Also in the practice I was little bit not so focused in some stage. Then I come back with myself, over-confident. I think I'm right in everything. I have some fight with the coach, some fight with my team But after couple loss, I start to say, ‘Well, maybe time to change my mentality again because the things not going my way. There's something I'm thinking wrong or doing wrong.’

“Right now I just come back to my normal level. If you want to win a match, you need to be balanced, be humble 'cause when you are over-confident, the things are really not doing well.”

Zheng will be unlikely to lack motivation in her upcoming quarterfinal clash with No. 3 seed Coco Gauff: a win would put Zheng into her first WTA 1000 semifinal—in her favorite city, no less.

“I love the atmosphere. I love here. Every time I play Italy, I feel good. Always the players, we have those tournaments that we love. Playing here feels really comfortable. I would say Rome is one of the places that I love to playing here. Feels comfortable for me.”