Zheng Qinwen becomes first athlete, male or female, to cover Vogue China

WUHAN, China—The “queen” of Chinese tennis just proved that she doesn’t need a racquet to leave her mark.

Zheng Qinwen has just become the first athlete, male or female, to cover Vogue China, in a massive fashion moment that perfectly encapsulates the ‘Qinwen mania’ triggered by her historic victory at the Olympic Games this summer.

Read More: Birthday girl Zheng Qinwen basks in star-studded homecoming at Wuhan Open

No stranger to high-fashion shoots—Zheng has already covered GQ China and Harper’s Bazaar China in the last two years—the 22-year-old told Vogue she is excited to show fans a “different” side in the magazine’s November edition.

“When I saw the final photos, I felt that my eyes lit up,” Zheng tells writer Yan Xia, via translated comments. “This time I also tried a style that I had never tried before.

“I also hope that when fans see these pictures, they will feel that Zheng Qinwen has taken a different route this time.”

Photographed by Wang Ziqian and styled by Vivienne Sun, Zheng is pictured in several daring hair and makeup looks while outfitted in international brands including Balenciaga, Nike and Rahul Mishra.

The reigning Olympic gold medalist—whose victory over Donna Vekic in the 2024 Paris Games final marked an explosion of national interest in all things tennis—said the experience left her feeling every bit like the ‘queen’ that she’s been dubbed by tennis fans.

“This shoot is the one I am most satisfied with among all the shoots I have taken, because it shows my own understanding of fashion,” Zheng says. “Not only the cover, but also the photos on the inside pages are my favorites. It combines the strength and beauty of athletes, and also has a sense of fashion.

“I really like the makeup and hairstyle that is powerful, elegant, and full of aura. When I stand there, I feel that the whole person's aura is very strong, and I feel like a queen.”

Read More: What gold medalist Zheng Qinwen learned about herself at the Olympics, and hopes to bring to the tour

Titled Being Queen Wen, the fashion spread and profile comes amid Zheng’s successful run at her home tournament, the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, where the No. 5 seed is into the semifinals for the first time.

She’s set to face countrywoman Wang Xinyu next, in what will be another historic milestone for domestic tennis: The first meeting between two Chinese players in the semifinal of a WTA 1000 event.

“People have big expectations on me here. The people in Wuhan, they all want to come to see me,” she told press in Wuhan. “I can feel the passion already when I'm walking on the street. Once they recognize me, everybody start to came around asking me (for my) signature, asking the photos.

“I love this atmosphere. At the same time, I need to keep more calm outside of the tennis court.”