Zheng has made much more serene progress at the Australian Open, where the 22-year-old has returned as last year’s runner up. Zheng isn’t one to shy away from letting her disappointment show after a defeat, but she appeared placid on Sunday against Anca Todoni after securing a 7-6 (3), 6-1 victory against the qualifier.
“Doesn’t matter if I win or I lost, I always give a handshake,” she said after her first-round victory. “But not always I give a handshake with a smiley face. This I know (about) myself.”
Q: You’ve spoken before about you’re not interested in having friends on the tour. What do you think about handshakes at the end of matches? Do you mind doing those? Do you think they’re a bit of a strange thing?
ZHENG QINWEN: Well, 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.
But not always I give a handshake with a smiley face. This I know (about) myself.
Usually I don’t often give a hug to my opponent as well, because I feel that is not necessary for me. I just come here for play a match. If I lost, I will give you just a basic respect and that’s it.
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! (laughter)
