Zheng Jie hoping for a good start to the next season – Tennis News
China’s second highest ranked female tennis player, Zheng Jie, has shared that she regards ASB Classic as her lucky tournament, as it gave her confidence in the last season.
Zheng said in a recent interview, "Auckland gave me more confidence going to the Australian Open. I got to the fourth round and that's why I wanted to come back to Auckland. `The lucky tournament' [is what] I call this tournament."
The Chinese star won the ASB Classic to claim her first title in previous six years. She defeated former world number two Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semi-finals and then the fourth seed, Flavia Pennetta, retired due to back injury
during the final.
Zheng was at the 48th position in the WTA Premier Rankings before this outdoor hard court tournament but she jumped 10 places to reach the 38th spot after winning it. Grabbing ASB Classic gave a huge push
to the Chinese player and she went on to reach the last-16 stage at the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open.
She stunned the then world number nine, Marion Bartoli of France, in straight sets in the third round at the Melbourne Park but then she went down at the hands of Italy’s Sara Errani in the fourth round.
Zheng’s form dropped after the Australian Open, as she lost in the first round of the next three tournaments she played. She regained that at the start of the grass season, as she upset the fourth seed, Roberta Vinci of Italy,
to advance to the semi-finals of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham.
The Chinese national added that she will have some burden on her during the coming edition of ASB Classic, as she will be defending her title.
She stated, "Of course, there is a little bit extra pressure, because everyone knows you won last year. I want to focus on the first round and we'll see what happens."
Zheng will be the fourth seed at the event and is drawn to meet the world number 70, Jamie Hampton of USA, in the first round. If she manages to win the opener, she will face the home favourite, Marina Erakovic, or a qualifier
in her second match.
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