Simple goals, seafood risotto fuel Zheng Qinwen in Rome

ROME, Italy—Zheng Qinwen is going back to basics at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia after enduring an opening-round exit at the Mutua Madrid Open last week.

“I realize when I think too far about the target, I didn’t play that good on court,” she said after a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Olga Danilovic. “So, I came back to the simple stuff: just to stay focused on every single point, fight for every single point. Nothing else than that because the more simple it is, the tennis becomes better.”

One of the fiercest competitors on any surface, Zheng is particularly lethal on clay, shocking then-No. 1 Iga Swiatek en route to an Olympic gold medal in Paris last summer. A two-time quarterfinalist in Rome, Zheng’s clay-court preparation appeared to have take a hit when she lost her opener in Madrid, but the 22-year-old is trying to take the defeat to Anastasia Potapova in stride.

“If I count the past few years, I didn’t do anything well in Madrid,” she laughed. “That’s funny!

“I’m trying to combine heavy topspin and then, when I see the chance, go for the flat ball to finish the point.”

The hyper-aggressive Zheng regretted erring on the more conservative side against Danilovic, who reached a clay-court final in Rouen last month, but feels more in rhythm as she plays the last major warm-up before Roland Garros.

“My goal in this tournament is just trying to fight in every single match and find my game. You actually find your best level in the match, not in the practice. I will just be there mentally and try to find the way to win the match, no matter how.”

These days, I try to put more focus on myself, how I’m going to be better, and not look anymore at what the others are doing or saying. Right now, I just want to stay in a calm, simple zone to find the best of my tennis. Zheng Qinwen

Ranked just below her career-high of No. 5, the world No. 8 is coming off a breakout season that not only saw her top the Olympic podium but also reach her first major final at the Australian Open. Though she was initially motivated to match the heights set by contemporaries like Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez, she ultimately found comparison to be the thief of joy.

“You know what? When I put the eyes too much on other players, I don’t focus too much on myself,” she said. “I didn’t find good results when I put a lot of attention and got distracted by putting eyes on the others.

“These days, I try to put more focus on myself, how I’m going to be better, and not look anymore at what the others are doing or saying. Right now, I just want to stay in a calm, simple zone to find the best of my tennis.”

Part of that simple zone involves keeping the same routines: Zheng has been to the same restaurant for dinner every night this week.

“Oh my god!” she exclaimed of the Roman cuisine. “It’s incredible, I can just say. At the same time, staying healthy with my diet but still finding pleasure. I love one of the fish dishes at the restaurant and the seafood risotto is so good, so good and so healthy!”

The No. 8 seed will aim to refuel in time for a third-round match against No. 26 seed Magdalena Freçh.