Zhu Zhenzhen tennis changed my destiny

● I don't know what I would do if I didn't play tennis? Tennis is the best and most correct choice of my life.

● When you become an example for others through exercise, they will not focus on the wheelchair, they will only follow you.

——Photo by Zhu Zhenzhen Interviewee

On the score alone, Zhu Zhenzhen is the best performer among Chinese players at the Australian Open this year. She reached the semi-finals of the Women ’s Singles Wheelchair Tennis. This is also the first time a Chinese wheelchair tennis player has participated in the four majors. "Even people with disabilities can find their place in society." Zhu Zhenzhen said that tennis changed her destiny. She hopes that through her own efforts, more people with disabilities can live an active life and go out of the house to feel the benefits of sports. happy.

Grade

Reversing top seed into Australian Open semifinals

31-year-old Zhu Zhenzhen has participated in the Paralympic Games and the Paralympic Games, but this is the first time that she has participated in the four majors. Entering the Melbourne Tennis Centre for the first time, Zhu Zhenzhen said that there would be a strong desire to play immediately. On January 29, when Zhu Zhenzhen was in a wheelchair and entered the No. 7 stadium, she told herself that she must enjoy the game.

In order to compete for the four major slams, Zhu Zhenzhen will travel to Britain, the United States, Japan, South Korea and other places to participate in 2019. After 15 races, her year-end world ranking came to No. 6. She finally entered the Australian Open wheelchair women's singles draw. "In the past two years, Chinese players have gradually integrated into the international tournament system." She said.

In the Australian Open wheelchair women's singles competition, a total of 8 players participated, consisting of the top 7 players in the world and a wild card player. Compared with ordinary tennis, wheelchair tennis rules are only a little different, that is, the ball can bounce twice before hitting the ball, and the second landing point can be inside or outside the boundary, which gives athletes more time to hit the ball. It also makes them move farther.

In the first round of the Australian Open, Zhu Zhenzhen encountered the top seed, German DeGroot. After losing 6: 7 in the first set, Zhu Zhenzhen did not give up and struggled to reverse with 6: 3, 7: 5.

"I'm really happy, not because I won the game, but because I felt my own progress and defeated myself. My heart is a little stronger." Zhu Zhenzhen said that when she played against top players, she always felt that they were among the top players in the world. It must be particularly difficult. There is always such a hurdle in my heart. "This time I feel a big step forward psychologically. No matter who the opponent is, no matter how high his level is, don't position yourself, try to be yourself, focus on every detail, regardless of You can't give up whether you are ahead or behind. If you persist, you will win the game. "

The semi-final was played in the same field, but the trend was completely different from the first round. Zhu Zhenzhen was overturned by the Dutchman Fankut when he won the first set. Although she failed to advance to the finals, Zhu Zhenzhen enjoyed the feeling of playing on the Grand Slam stage.

"The Australian Open's tournament service is really great, and every link will make you feel intimate. After playing the Australian Open, I feel my love for tennis has increased again." Zhu Zhenzhen, who has played wheelchair tennis for more than a decade, cherishes this "I'm also thinking these days, if we can stabilize a little bit more, the ups and downs are not so big, and it is not without opportunities to impact the Grand Slam championship."

ideal

Making more disabled people enjoy sports

Zhu Zhenzhen is a native of Liaocheng, Shandong, and lost the ability to walk at the age of two due to illness. In 2005, Zhu Zhenzhen, 16, started practicing wheelchair tennis, and her fate changed.

In her second year practicing wheelchair tennis, Zhu Zhenzhen entered the Shandong wheelchair tennis team. In 2007, Zhu Zhenzhen participated in the 7th National Disabled Games, and her 6th place strengthened her confidence to continue training. In the 8th National Disabled Games in 2011, Zhu Zhenzhen won two gold medals in doubles and groups.

"I always wanted to say, I don't know what I would do if I didn't play tennis? Tennis is the best and most correct choice in my life." Zhu Zhenzhen said that tennis changed her destiny and convinced her that even with a disability, You can also find your own lifestyle through sports. "When you become an example for others through sports, they don't pay attention to the wheelchair, they only pay attention to you."

When deciding to practice wheelchair tennis, Zhu Zhenzhen said that all efforts and persistence are not to prove what everyone is going to see. "I am an ordinary person and want to do something seriously." Zhu Zhenzhen is grateful for her childhood environment. This had a great impact on her growth. "When I was in elementary school, I never regarded myself as special, and my classmates never regarded me as special. I like sports, I like rope skipping, and badminton, and they all take me to play. "

Zhu Zhenzhen has also learned a lot from foreign disabled players all year round. "They enjoy life and love life more." Zhu Zhenzhen said that what is more important abroad is self-reliance. Many things, even people with disabilities, have to go by themselves. Do, "But in China, many people still don't know how to get along with the disabled. They are very kind, but they may be particularly careful about you and they will worry about hurting you."

According to data from the China Disabled Persons' Federation at the end of 2018, the number of people with disabilities in China exceeded 85 million. Zhu Zhenzhen hopes that through her own efforts, more disabled people will leave their homes, love sports, and get happiness and happiness in sports. "This time at the Australian Open, there may be many disabled friends who see my game. I hope they can have some new ideas from me and live a more active life. I believe there should be some touch on them." Zhu Zhenzhen said the wheelchair Tennis is a good way of playing. Older and younger disabled friends can play, and they are particularly happy to play. "Even the disabled, they may find their place in society."

prospect

Battle the Tokyo Paralympic Games without accident

Unlike ordinary tennis, wheelchair tennis requires athletes to push the wheelchair by themselves and complete the stroke. It takes more effort than ordinary people to train for a long time, and there are constant blisters and calluses on their hands. But Zhu Zhenzhen said that these were trivial matters, and she never cried out.

Zhu Zhenzhen said that in order to become an excellent athlete, everyone's efforts are the same. The only difference is that China's wheelchair tennis starts late and there is a sound process in all aspects of protection. In 1994, the Chinese wheelchair tennis team was established. Dong Fuli, who lost her right leg after the Tangshan earthquake, became the first team member. She is also the coach of Zhu Zhenzhen. At the beginning, there was not much attention to wheelchair tennis from the outside world, and it only gradually improved in recent years.

Today, the China Disabled Sports Management Center has reached a joint construction agreement with Chaoda International Tennis School, which provides related technical, physical fitness, sparring and other support. In addition, some caring people in the society often organize high-level players to train with the wheelchair tennis team.

The full protection of training conditions has also promoted the rapid improvement of the strength of Chinese wheelchair tennis teams. In 2017, the Chinese team won the 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the Wheelchair Tennis World Cup. One year later, in the Jakarta Paralympic Asian Games, Zhu Zhenzhen partnered with Huang Huimin and won the women's doubles gold medal. This is also the first Asian Games gold medal in Chinese wheelchair tennis.

Although the Chinese wheelchair tennis team can occupy a place in the world tennis world, there is currently no international wheelchair tennis tournament in China. "Our national strength is still very strong, we are fully capable of hosting wheelchair tennis tournaments, and hope to strengthen them in the future." Zhu Zhenzhen introduced that Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and other countries have wheelchair tennis tournaments. This year's Australian Open wheelchair men's and women's singles The championships are also from Japan.

Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, Zhu Zhenzhen did not return to the country after the Australian Open. He went directly to the United Kingdom to participate in the Tokyo Paralympic Points Championship, and then went to the United States, South Korea, Japan and other places. "Some countries now have entry restrictions. Go back to the country and go out to race again. When the quarantine is complete, the race will end. "Zhu Zhenzhen hopes that the epidemic will end as soon as possible. Participating in the Tokyo Paralympic Games is her biggest goal this year. According to the criteria for the Paralympic Games, the top 21 players in the world will be directly selected. Not surprisingly, Zhu Zhenzhen, ranked 6th in the world, will participate in the Paralympic Games again after Rio.

Writing / Beijing News reporter Sun Haiguang