According to Spanish media reports, Chinese Jinhua Zheng Qinwen will partner with Albert Costa, the 2002 French Open men's singles champion, in the Middle East season in Doha and WTA1000 Dubai. After training together in Barcelona, Zheng Qinwen and Costa have recently arrived in Doha, Qatar for final preparations.

 Zheng Qinwen data map

Albert Costa is ranked No.6 in a career, has won 12 ATP Tour singles titles (all on clay), beaten the likes of Federer, Agassi and Zhang Depei, and coached Spain's F. Lopez after retiring in 2006. It is worth mentioning that Nadal's first career top 10 victory came at the 2003 Monte Carlo Masters.

Zheng Qinwen has only played one tournament this season, losing to Germany's Sigmund in the second round, and her world ranking slipped to No.8 after losing points from last year's runner-up finish. In the Middle East, Zheng Qinwen will compete in two WTA1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai, and last year she reached the round of 16 in Doha and the quarterfinals in Dubai, with a total of 335 ranking points, and Zheng Qinwen will strive to keep points this year.

Zheng Qinwen's former coach Riba underwent hip surgery at the beginning of the year and is still in the recovery stage, with reports suggesting that Riba will return to the team in March.

(Text, editor: Dato, photo: Visual China)