As the WTA Finals in 2024 unfold in the vibrant city of Cancun, one player is standing out not just for her remarkable talent, but for her blunt approach to relationships on the tour. Zheng Qinwen, who has risen to World No. 7 in the WTA rankings, is known for her fierce competitiveness and unwavering focus on her tennis career. However, what has garnered attention is her candid admission that she does not form friendships with fellow players on the tour, and she actively keeps her distance from others—an approach that some have found surprising, if not controversial.
Zheng, who is participating in the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time in her career, has made it clear that she treats tennis first and foremost as a job. In a sport that is rife with camaraderie, rivalries, and relationships, her stance is unorthodox. Many of her contemporaries, including the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula, have formed close-knit friendships that transcend the court. But Zheng has never been one to join these circles. She values her professional space and believes that friendships with competitors could interfere with her mental clarity during matches.
“I always prefer to keep my distance from other players. There is a lot of competition between us. I am a very sensitive girl. I don’t feel like I can become friends with someone and then have to compete on the court. I wouldn’t focus 100% to fight,” Zheng explained in a recent interview. “As soon as I encourage myself, I would feel weird. Deep down, if it’s a friend, I want her to win and succeed in life. It’s the opposite of what I think in a tennis tournament.”
This straightforward approach is reflective of Zheng’s philosophy as a player. She believes that emotional attachments to other players could potentially affect her focus and drive during competition, something she values highly in the high-stakes environment of the WTA Tour. For her, tennis is a business—a business of winning matches, chasing titles, and ultimately striving for excellence. In her mind, the idea of creating bonds with competitors could cloud her judgment and weaken her resolve when faced with the pressure of a match.
### A Different Relationship with the Locker Room
While many players develop strong relationships off the court, including friendly rivalries and close friendships, Zheng’s approach is decidedly solitary. When asked about her relationships with fellow players at the WTA Finals, Zheng didn’t mince words. “We are just saying hello. Sometimes say congrats on your great season. No more talk with no more people,” she stated plainly. “I never go for more. I don’t try to go for more, as well.”
Her stance has made her somewhat of an outsider within the tour’s inner social circles. Despite her success on the court, Zheng is not known for socializing or forming bonds with others in the locker room. She’s often seen as a quiet figure, keeping to herself, speaking only when necessary. This detached demeanor has led to some interesting—and sometimes negative—comments from her peers.
### Criticism from Fellow Players
Zheng’s preference for isolation has drawn some criticism from other players, particularly in instances where her competitiveness may have been perceived as unsporting. Emma Navarro, the American player, made headlines following a tense encounter with Zheng during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the two faced off in the round-of-16. Zheng came back from a set down to win 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-1, but Navarro didn’t hold back when addressing her thoughts on the Chinese player’s demeanor.
“I just told her (Qinwen) I didn’t respect her as a competitor. I think she goes about things in a pretty cut-throat way. 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,” Navarro said following the match.
Navarro’s comments, which suggested that Zheng’s approach to competition created a lack of camaraderie on the tour, sparked a flurry of media attention. Zheng, however, was not quick to respond in anger or frustration. When asked about Navarro’s remarks, she kept her cool, offering a response that was both measured and diplomatic.
“If she is not happy with my behavior, she can come and tell me. I would like to correct it to become a better player and a better person. I am happy that she told me. I will not consider it an attack because she lost the match,” Zheng stated. “She told me that she doesn’t know how I have so many fans. It seems that she is not happy with my behavior towards her.”
Although Zheng’s response was calm and collected, the comments revealed an interesting dynamic between her and some of her fellow players. Her no-nonsense, win-at-all-costs mentality, while admirable in many ways, has left her with few close relationships on the tour. Instead of developing bonds with her competitors, Zheng has opted for a more solitary approach to her tennis career, one that prioritizes focus and mental clarity over camaraderie.
### Controversial Moments with Donna Vekic
The tension surrounding Zheng’s social dynamics on the tour continued after her clash with Croatian player Donna Vekic in 2024. During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Zheng faced Vekic in a final that saw her emerge victorious with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 scoreline. After the match, Vekic voiced her discontent, accusing Zheng of unsporting behavior.
“She was constantly delaying the service, as soon as someone’s voice was heard or someone moved in the crowd. She took time-outs completely incorrectly,” Vekic said, adding that there were “a lot of controversial stories” about Zheng’s conduct.
Though Vekic did not go into further detail, her public critique of Zheng mirrored Navarro’s sentiments about her behavior on the court. Zheng, however, maintained her position and chose not to engage in any back-and-forth. She has made it clear that her focus is on her tennis, not on what others think of her personality or her methods.
### The Path Forward: Balancing Focus with Relationships
Zheng’s decision to remain emotionally detached from her rivals on the WTA Tour is not without its challenges. On one hand, it allows her to maintain a laser-sharp focus on her goals and minimizes any potential distractions. On the other hand, it’s clear that her approach has drawn criticism from those who value the camaraderie and mutual respect that often accompanies relationships on tour.
As Zheng continues to rise through the ranks and establish herself as one of the top players in the game, it will be interesting to see how her relationships with her fellow competitors evolve. While her focus on winning and competition is commendable, tennis, like many other sports, is as much about the people you face as it is about the game itself. Whether Zheng will remain an outsider in the social circles of the WTA or eventually open up to forming deeper bonds remains to be seen. What’s clear, however, is that her single-minded determination to succeed will continue to shape her career on the court, regardless of what happens off it.