21-year-old tennis player Zheng Qingwen had a great 2023 season. He finished the year in 15th place in the WTA rankings. The Chinese number one reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, showing her best result in Grand Slam tournaments of her career.
The young athlete won her first two WTA titles, in Palermo and Zhengzhou. In addition, Zheng’s advantages include winning the Asian Games and reaching the final of the small final tournament, where she lost in a bitter fight to Brazilian Beatrice Haddad-Maya (6: 7, 6: 7).
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Qinwen did particularly well towards the end of the season. Although in September she was abandoned by eminent Belgian trainer Wim Fissette, she left for her former protégé, four-time TBS champion Naomi Osaka, who was returning to the tour following her maternity leave. Zheng accused Fissette of immorality and pettiness for breach of contract. There were no legal consequences for Vim, meaning she had the right to terminate the agreement early. Although from a moral point of view it is difficult to justify Fissette’s action.
Zheng decided on a new coach in early December. The Chinese company announced on its social network page the resumption of cooperation with the Spanish Pere Riba.
“Reunited after some time apart, ready to travel together and prepare for the next season. “I’m going back to basics,” Qinwen wrote on social media, posting a photo with Riba.
Pere Riba and Zheng Qingwen
Photo: From Qinwen’s personal archive.
Riba worked with Qinwen early in his career. In the 2022 season, the Chinese, under her leadership, received the WTA Rookie of the Year award, entered the top 30 of the world rankings and reached her first absolute final at a tournament in Tokyo. The Spaniard left Zheng in June of this year. The Chinese immediately hired the eminent Belgian Wim Fissette, who had previously collaborated with Kim Clijsters, Sabina Lisicki, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani, Johanna Konta, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka.
Qinwen’s separation from Riba passed peacefully. The parties thanked each other for a job well done. Zheng hoped that collaborating with Fissette would allow him to conquer new heights. However, the Belgian stayed with her for only a few months and fled to Osaka as soon as he announced her return to the tour.
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Riba, for his part, joined Cori Gauff’s team, becoming her second coach after the famous Brad Gilbert, who became famous for working with Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray. Gilbert and Riba helped the 19-year-old Gauff win her first Slam at the 2023 US Open. The Spaniard didn’t stay with Cory long and returned to Qingwen at the first opportunity, although the American was not particularly happy with her departure.
“Unfortunately it was not my decision, but we were forced to interrupt cooperation. I felt very comfortable with Pere and I wish him all the best for the future. If it were up to me, I would gladly have him on my team. But anything can happen, life goes on. Sometimes people believe there are serious reasons. But in reality, some things just don’t work. That’s all. I still think he is a great coach. He made an invaluable contribution to improving my game. I am confident that he will achieve success in the next stage of his career,” Gauff said in late October.
Riba explained the cessation of collaboration with Gauff due to certain family circumstances.
“I had to separate from Coco for personal reasons related to my family. I am very satisfied with the work we have done together, because all our objectives have been achieved. And I am convinced that next year Gauff will become the first racket in the world,” said Riba.
Cori Gauff did not want to stop working with Pere Riba
Photo: Robert Prange/Getty Images
As it turned out, Pere simply decided to work with Qingwen again. To some extent it is understandable. After all, he was the second coach of the Gauff team after Gilbert. But still it turned out not entirely ethical. Questions also arise for Qingwen. The Spaniard not only came to her, he would have continued staying with Corey if Zheng had not persuaded him to leave the US Open champion team.
Tennis fans on social network X (formerly Twitter) actively discussed Qingwen’s controversial act.
“It’s funny that Qinwen complained so much about Fissette going to Osaka. And now she herself stole Gauff’s carriage.”
“Qinwen did exactly what Osaka accused. “I no longer want to hear her complain about some kind of immorality.”
“What is Qingwen doing? How rude of her.”
“There are questions not only for Qinwen, but also for Riba. She already threw it on the street once, as waste material.”
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In general, it’s hard to argue with fans. Certain statements can be made about the observance of sports ethics not only to Qinwen, but also to the rest of the resulting “tennis polygon”: Osaka, Fissette and Riba. The only victim is Gauff, who lost the coach he enjoyed working with.
Zheng deserves some grace for poaching Cory’s second coach, not his main one. Be that as it may, the situation really looks bad, especially considering that China herself was in a situation in which her coach suddenly abandoned her.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS