This follows up from her breakout season last year, with Zheng being backed to impress once again in 2025.

In 2024, the world number five reached her maiden Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, where she was beaten by Aryna Sabalenka.

The 22-year-old has lost all five of her meetings against the world number one, but Zheng still believes that she can beat Sabalenka.

Qinwen Zheng will never smile at her opponent after losing

After her opening win in Melbourne this year, Zheng headed to the post-match press conference where she was asked about handshakes.

When speaking about etiquette after matches, the Olympic champion explained why she would never smile at an opponent after losing.

“I always give a handshake to my opponent, because I feel that’s the basic respect,” said Zheng. “Doesn’t matter if i win or I lost I always give a handshake. But not always I give a handshake with a smiley face, this I know myself and usually I don’t openly give a hug to my opponent, because I feel that it is not necessary for me.

“Because I come here just for play a match and if I lost I will give you just the basic respect and that’s it. That’s why you will not see me lose match and with a happy face to the opponent, if you saw that on me that’s very strange which means I don’t care about the match on that day.”

Why has Qinwen Zheng previously been criticised?

The question about handshakes appeared to be pointed at Zheng following an incident in her run to the Olympic gold in Paris last year.

After Zheng beat Emma Navarro in the third round in Paris, there appeared to be a tense exchange at the net instigated by the American.

This was explained to press after the match, with Navarro revealing that she did not respect Zheng.

“I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor… I think she goes about things in a pretty cut-throat way,” said Navarro. “It makes for a locker room that doesn’t have a lot of camaraderie, so it’s tough to face an opponent like that, who I really don’t respect.”

Zheng will now await the winner of Hailey Baptiste and Laura Siegemund for her second round match at the Australian Open.

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