Zheng Qinwen suffered a slight setback forward of the 2024 season because the world No. 5 is ready to be with out coach Pere Riba through the upcoming Australian Open.
Since reuniting in late 2023, the 2 have had nice success collectively because the Chinese language received the Paris Olympics this 12 months, in addition to made the finals on the Australian Open and WTA Finals. Additionally, she made a top-5 debut.
However since Riba – who ended his professional profession in 2018 after injuring his hip in an accident – is ready for a hip surgical procedure, he will not have the ability to accompany Zheng at Melbourne Park. As an alternative, the 22-year-old is ready to work with Dante Bottini, who’s a really well-known teaching identify within the sport.
Nevertheless, in response to Marca, the previous Spanish tennis participant ought to be able to rejoin the Chinese language’s group within the spring when the time comes for the WTA 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.
How Zheng feels about Riba as her coach?
Of their first stint, they labored for 2 and a half years and the Spaniard helped the present world No. 5 set up herself as a WTA participant. However the true enchancment and development occurred of their present stint, which made Riba as one of many candidates for the WTA Coach of the 12 months.
And Zheng completely loves what the 36-year-old brings to the desk.
“He all the time has lot of ardour on tennis. That is vital. He actually needs to be an excellent coach. Not so many coaches on tour have the sort of ardour. Many coaches, they simply think about this as a excessive prize job. However there are just a few coaches on tour, they actually love the tennis, they need their participant to develop into the very best, they need their participant to enhance each single day. I believe he is the sort of coach,” Zheng mentioned of her coach in Riyadh.
