BEIJING -- Zheng Qinwen shared insights about her evolving perspective on success following her quarterfinal victory over Elina Svitolina at the China Open, just a day after celebrating her 24th birthday. In her earlier career, she viewed winning as essential for survival on the WTA Tour, which added pressure during challenging times.

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Recently, her mindset has shifted. "I'm more grateful for every win because I understand how much effort I've put into them," Zheng said. "I've learned to enjoy both winning and the effort it takes on the court."

While winning remains crucial for rankings, prize money, and titles, Zheng emphasized that she no longer equates her worth with her success. She has come to recognize that experiencing low points can lead to personal growth. "My biggest takeaway is that lows are not necessarily bad," she noted. She reflected on how negative moments can offer valuable lessons and opportunities for improvement.

The China Open carries particular significance for Zheng, as she competes in front of her home crowd. Last season, she faced a setback here when she had to retire from a match due to a right-elbow injury, which resulted in her absence from the tour until February.

Following a tough period, including slipping to as low as No. 160 in the world rankings, Zheng's turnaround began after a difficult qualifying loss in Toronto. With her team's encouragement, she undertook an intensive training block in Florida to regain her form, and since then, she has achieved notable success, including two quarterfinal appearances at the US Open and now reaching the semifinals in Beijing.

Reflecting on her training, Zheng remarked, "What I did in that training block is still unforgettable. I had to accept that winning was not essential at that moment, and it paid off." According to her, she has won 12 of 13 main-draw matches since the Toronto event.

Zheng's journey has taught her to appreciate both the highs and lows of competition. She acknowledged that the challenges she faced were part of her growth as a player. "Going through this journey, there have been many chapters. You see the lows in the recent period, but in my junior years, there were many highs and lows. It's been like this all the way through. I didn't expect that the lows this time continued that long. That is why I treasure the opportunities now."