| 與鄭潔的長途電話訪問 (只提供英文版) |
| 24 / 12 / 2009 |
Date : December 22, 2009
Time : 11:35am - 12:15pm
Venue: HKTPA – Hong Kong (By Phone)
1. What are your achievement goals for 2010?
Zheng Jie: Next year I hope I can be more stable in the singles rankings.
2. Now that you are no longer managed by the China Tennis Association, how has that changed the way you structure your season and decide which events to play?
ZJ: I would like to clarify that I am still a member of the National Team member. With the new arrangement, it is more flexible for me can I can decide for myself which events to play, depending on my performance and my physical condition.
3. What has been the major difference between 2008 and 2009 that you feel?
ZJ: Mainly that I have to do everything on my own, such as booking hotels and flights.
4. With regards to the income share, how is it different now?
ZJ: The percentage shared is now less than before.
5. What about your coaching? How do you handle that aspect?
ZJ: My current coach is still my coach, but I also have now to choose my own. It would be good for me to choose since I know myself and my needs best.
6. What are your other training goals, and what have you been training on, off-court?
ZJ: Strength training has been key, and there has been marked improvement. My movement (playing) seems better now.
7. With the new management and old management, what do you prefer?
ZJ: It’s different actually. When I was young, I needed CTA’s support and guidance. Now that I am older, I know it’s my obligation and my career. I also love tennis, and now I can control myself better. In my current situation I believe that manage myself better.
8. How much more did you earn this year?
ZJ: This year I earned more. But I don’t know. Ask my husband! He knows!
9. Would this self-management be a better system for you now?
ZJ: There is no good or bad I guess. For me now, personally, this fits me better now.
10. What was your biggest challenge you met so far since you left the management wings of the CTA?
ZJ: Nothing big really, nothing too difficult. I just have to do more for myself, but I have a management company taking care of some of the things for me. I need to focus on finding a coach, whom I just choose then work with then I just concentrate on my tennis.
11. Your new coach, what part of your game is he primarily working on?
ZJ: We are working on my serve. I have a new serve now. But I have also learnt a lot from my new coach, like being optimistic and to have more self-confidence. He’s a very encouraging coach and I feel that I’ve become stronger.
12. Is your new coach permanent?
ZJ: He’s in Beijing now, but tomorrow he returns to USA for Christmas. This is a very important season for him and his family so he had to go back. I really learned a lot from him. I am discussions with him If he is able coach me next year.
13. Yan Zi has just got married. Do you think this made a difference in your choice of looking for a new doubles’ partner?
ZJ: Her marriage doesn’t make a difference in the decision as we decided to partner other players to have some experience to try this out.
14. Will the both of you (Zheng and Yan) have more to discuss now she’s (Yan’s) married?
ZJ: After marriage, you begin to focus on your own family. In fact, we haven’t talked about life after marriage yet! (ZJ and media Laugh) But ones thinking generally become more mature.
15. Has retirement crossed your mind?
ZJ: I will not retire right now, not unless I’ve had a serious injury which will stop me from playing. I’ve not been thinking about this. I am still competitive so why not continue to play?
16. Your apparel, you have just signed with Anta sportswear. Will you be designing your own apparel?
ZJ: No, my drawing skills are quite bad! (Zhang and all media laugh). I will give comments to Anta about what I and dislike. I have my dog monogrammed on my clothes for next season.
17. Which item of clothing/Apparel do you like best?
ZJ: No one wears anything my clothes! I like my playing clothes tailor made – and I would like other girls to like it. It’s very cool to have my own clothes. My 2009 playing apparel cannot be purchased but I think that for 2010 they will most likely have apparel for sale to the public as I only signed last year. I wish for more people to know and like Chinese brands.
18. You will be playing against some very big names in Hong Kong. How do you feel?
ZJ: I am very excited. Michael Chang was I looked up to when I was young. I watched him as a kid. I have never had the opportunity to play with Chang before.
19. What would you like to learn from Chang from most?
ZJ: I think it’s not so much learning but more about being able to experience his playing quality. His frame is similar to mine in scale, and the tennis tour is much more difficult for male players, but he managed to compete at that very top level.
20. Since the New Year is coming around, what would be your New Year’s wish(es)?
ZJ: (Laughs) I hope not to get any injuries and illnesses, and hope that my family stays healthy, and more importantly, I keep on enjoying tennis!
21. Where would you like to visit in Hong Kong, given that you have come here several times in the past?
ZJ: I have never been to Disneyland actually! (Laughs) If have time I would like to go to there.
22. What would be your other goals you have set for yourself for the Grand Slams?
ZJ: None in particular really. I just want to enjoy competing and to try to play better. Perhaps this was also due to my Grand Slam performances in 2009, where I setting high goals based on my performance in 2008. Hence, I would not want to set goals, but just to play.
23. The Asian Games will be held in Guangzhou, China next year (2010). Would you like to participate?
ZJ: I would very much like to represent China at the Asian Games next year. I loved the feeling when I represented China at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, with the crowd support and the overall atmosphere so I definitely want to play in Asian Games.
24. You are now 26 years old and you are married, have you planned when you would be having children and retire early? Will you consider coming back on the tour after giving birth like the Belgian players?
ZJ: (Laughs) I have no plans of having children yet. I think that even after I got married I still feel like a very young lady! (Zhang and media all laugh!)
25. The Belgian players retired when they were at the top of their game. When they returned, did you feel that you will be affected by their return, given that there would be 2 top-ranked competitors back in the field?
ZJ: I think that their return to is great for the game and am sure it will attract more people to watch women’s tennis! I was very sad when they retired as they were very skilled and accomplished players. When the returned I was very happy as I could feel from them that they really loved tennis, and couldn’t let go of it. It also made me savor every match I play even more, and to enjoy my tennis every moment that I can.
26. How is the condition of your injury of your left hand?
ZJ: It has gotten better during the end of the 2009. It is not so painful. I have also not been hitting a lot of backhands as I have been focusing on my serve.
27. Now that you are an independent player, did you feel more free, more relaxed than before?
ZJ: No, actually I didn’t feel that free or relaxed. It was my first year as an independent player and I was not sure how I would cope with the situation. There was also a lot of pressure on me to do well. Given that I got to around the top 30 rank in singles, I consider this good am I already very happy.
28. Now that in tennis, players have become “free agents” of their own accord, do you think that other sports will follow suit such as Badminton or Table Tennis?
ZJ: The public seems to like the term that we are “independent” or “free agents”, but really we are still National Athletes. We still represent our country at the Olympics, the Asian Games and other National Championships. Perhaps our system for tennis is different to other sports. Maybe for us (in tennis) we had to take this step to really experience what it is like to be a “professional” athlete in our sport.
29. Do you think therefore that other sports governing bodies for Badminton or Table Tennis should follow this method of “independent” athletes for tennis?
ZJ: This would not be for me to say but would be the decision of the respective presidents of the respective governing bodies.
30. In your opinion then, will this system that has been adopted for tennis athletes be good for Chinese athletes of other sports?
ZJ: I believe it is not a matter of whether it is good or not good, but whether it is suitable for particular athletes. Sometimes if they are too young or their maturity level has not reached a certain level, and you let them progress on their own, it may not be suitable. This needs to be assessed on an individual basis to see if the athlete is indeed capable of making the right decisions and being independent.
31. One final question, who are you partnering in doubles for next year?
ZJ: I will be partnering Elena Vesnina from Russia.
