SHENG QINWEN/L. Fernandez
5-7, 6-3, 6-0
THE MODERATOR: Please share your thoughts on today's match.
ZHENG QINWEN: First of all, I was very happy to be in the final eight. Three sets today, I still think I played pretty well today.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.
Q. During the match, Rafael Nadal announced he would be retiring from tennis. Do you have any memories of him, how he may have inspired you?
ZHENG QINWEN: Wow, that's a shock news for me. I thought he would continue play one more year. I mean, yes, he's leader of one generation. I watch his match since I was a kid.
There's lots of memories. Even now sometimes I will search Rafael Nadal and watch his old matches when he had 19 years old, 20, when he's at his primetime.
Of course, he inspire a lot to me. Even right now sometimes when I'm at difficult moment, I will think how strong is Rafael Nadal's mentality in the tennis.
I think that's sad to hear 'cause I really wants to watch him more on the tour. But every legends, it's a time for them to retire. I wish he can continue enjoy the life, and that's it.
Q. How do you think you turned this match around after losing the first set?
ZHENG QINWEN: In the third set?
Q. After losing the first set.
ZHENG QINWEN: The first set?
Q. Yes.
ZHENG QINWEN: Well, actually I had lot of chance there, especially 4-4, 5-5. I remember in one return game I was leading 30-Love. In some I was 40-15 up. I was not able to make the break.
The match was tough for me because when I entered to the court, I feel hurt in my stomach. So my body shape wasn't 100%. That's why I'm really happy to get this match, even when I'm not there in my physical, yeah.
Q. In terms of your ability to focus today, given everything that was happening, how you were feeling physically, what was going on on the other side of the court, how did you keep that focus? It would be very easy to get distracted, especially the second set.
ZHENG QINWEN: Actually, I was distracted in the first set by what the dad is saying because Leylah was on the other side. He was always talking, C'mon, c'mon, before I start to return. That's why I think I lost the game when I was 30-Love, because I was a little bit distracted.
After that he was continue doing. Plus the pain I had in the stomach, the fight against the opponent. One moment I cannot hold more. I said to him, You must to talk before I start to return?
But, I mean, after that actually I start to feel better because is what I have in my heart. I didn't say anything unrespectful. I just say what I feel without bad word.
I mean, yeah, it's tough to keep the concentration because first set you see. That's why I'm happy today. With all the physical conditions and with the small things on court, I'm still able to play better at the end. I'm just happy to won this match.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Chinese.
Q. Before the match, you said you wanted to have Deng Ziqi to be a guest for the coin toss. They were playing her songs before the match. Did you hear that? What did you feel about it?
ZHENG QINWEN: Sorry, I wasn't really listening to the songs. I did not notice. If she could be here as a coin toss guest, of course I would be very happy.
As for aspirations and expectations, I do not have any expectations of what songs they can play.
Q. We know you're always on the road overseas. You have your manager, coach, parents with you. Coming back to Beijing and Wuhan, do you have colleagues, classmates cheering for you? Did you invite any friends?
ZHENG QINWEN: Of course. This time my aunt, my uncle, friends, relatives, my parents. Some friends were asking me for tickets. I had no idea how to get tickets for them. I referred them to my manager.
Because of a busy schedule, I couldn't really get out for dinner with them. In China, of course more friends, more family can come on-site to cheer for me.
Q. During the Paris Olympics, after the Olympics, many Olympians visited Hong Kong, but you were not able to come because of your schedule. Anything to say to fans in Hong Kong?
ZHENG QINWEN: Hello fans in Hong Kong. I am Zheng Qinwen. To my regret, I could not visit Hong Kong that time. I looked forward to this trip because many Olympians of the same age could be talking to one another. I look forward to the next trip to Hong Kong.
Q. Yesterday you talked about mental fatigue. Could you share with us your current mentality?
ZHENG QINWEN: Because of the busy schedule, I have matches every day, I don't have any other activities to relax. Anything relaxing, I have to wait until after the tournament because I'm in the match. I do not think I need to resolve that fatigue, I need to fight till the end.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports