Is Serena Williams making a comeback? Zheng Qinwen: I want to compete against her!

Although she has been retired for a long time, rumors about Serena Williams returning to the tennis court have never ceased. Recently, because Serena has met the comeback conditions of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA)—specifically completing the six-month observation period of the anti-doping testing system on February 22—the American legend now meets the basic requirements to return to the tour. Consequently, news of her comeback has started circulating again.

Additionally, a high-intensity training session between Serena and current player Parks has sparked widespread speculation among fans. Parks praised Serena's excellent form, and some foreign media even directly stated that Serena "plans to return to the court before the end of this month." Of course, the accuracy of such reports is debatable, but it reflects the public's anticipation for Serena's return.

Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen recently stated in an Indian Wells media day interview that Serena has been her idol since childhood, and her own aggressive playing style is deeply influenced by Serena. When asked if she looks forward to facing her idol, Zheng expressed that she is someone who loves challenges.

"She truly is the pioneer of power tennis in women's game. Of course, she has her own life now, and returning to the tour would undoubtedly be an extremely difficult and lengthy process. If I could choose, I would definitely prefer to play a match against Serena in her prime, even though I know that's impossible to happen."

"Because I know that during Serena's peak, her serve speed and all-around offensive abilities were exceptional, and I am someone who really enjoys a challenge, so I particularly want to compete against her from that era."

As the current leading figure in Chinese tennis, Zheng Qinwen's performances are highly anticipated. During this Indian Wells media day interview, she addressed various rumors, especially the recent news about changing coaches.

Zheng Qinwen clarified that she has not ended her collaboration with coach Riba; he is simply taking a temporary break from the team. Regarding the addition of Baghdatis, she hopes he can bring some new changes and help her make greater progress.

As the No. 24 seed in this year's Indian Wells women's singles draw, Zheng Qinwen enjoys a first-round bye. Her second-round opponent will be determined between wild card players Brady and Ružić. This match is expected to take place in another two or three days, so fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Zheng make her appearance at this year's Indian Wells tournament.

Last year, Zheng Qinwen reached the quarterfinals at both Indian Wells and Miami, so she faces some pressure to defend those points. She has already practiced with Mboukou, Naomi Osaka, and Sakkari. We look forward to the Chinese star having an even better performance this year!(Source: Tennis Home Author: Barbie)