Zheng Jie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Zheng Jie
郑洁

Zheng at the 2015 French Open
Country (sports)	China
Residence	Chengdu, Sichuan
Born	(1983-07-05) 5 July 1983 (age 41) Chengdu
Height	1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Turned pro	16 January 2003
Retired	2015
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money	$6,157,773
Singles
Career record	384–266 (59.08%)
Career titles	4
Highest ranking	No. 15 (18 May 2009)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	SF (2010)
French Open	4R (2004)
Wimbledon	SF (2008)
US Open	3R (2008, 2009, 2012, 2013)
Doubles
Career record	437–213 (67.23%)
Career titles	15
Highest ranking	No. 3 (10 July 2006)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	W (2006)
French Open	SF (2006)
Wimbledon	W (2006)
US Open	SF (2010, 2013)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	SF (2014)
French Open	SF (2008, 2015)
Wimbledon	SF (2006)
US Open	1R (2012)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	22–9 (70.97%)
Medal record Olympic Games Bronze 2008 Beijing Doubles Asian Games Gold 2006 Doha Singles Gold 2006 Doha Doubles Silver 2014 Incheon Team event Bronze 2014 Incheon Mixed doubles

Zheng Jie (born July 5, 1983) is a Chinese former professional tennis player. She became one of China's most successful tennis stars. In May 2009, she reached her highest singles ranking of world No. 15.

Zheng won four singles titles on the WTA Tour. These were in Hobart (2005), Estoril (2006), Stockholm (2006), and Auckland (2012). She also won 15 doubles titles. Eleven of these were with her partner Yan Zi. Together, they won major tournaments like Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2006. They also won a bronze medal in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Zheng's highest doubles ranking was world No. 3. She made history at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships by reaching the singles semifinals. She beat the world No. 1 player, Ana Ivanovic, along the way. This made her the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals at a major tennis tournament. She also reached the semifinals of the 2010 Australian Open.

About Zheng Jie's Life

Zheng Jie finished her studies at the Sichuan Sports Academy in June 2000.

At Wimbledon in 2008, she became very well-known. She was the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam singles event. She even beat the world's top player, Ana Ivanovic, during the tournament. Zheng donated her prize money from Wimbledon to help people affected by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. This earthquake happened in her home province.

Zheng was first coached by Jiang Hong Wei, who was China's national women's team head coach. Later, her husband, Zhang Yu, became her coach and hitting partner. They grew close after she had a serious ankle injury. Zheng uses Yonex rackets and wore clothing from Anta. She also appeared in ads for Rolex, alongside famous players like Roger Federer.

Zheng started playing tennis when she was ten. She saw her older sister playing and thought it looked like good exercise. At first, it was just for fun. Zheng was quite small, and her parents worried she might not succeed in tennis. They even called her "xiao bu dier," meaning "small kid." Her parents thought she should focus more on her studies. This way, she would have other job options if tennis didn't work out. However, her foreign coach saw her talent. He told her parents that many people read books in China, but few become national heroes. After hearing this, her parents agreed to let her pursue tennis professionally.

About a year after the Sichuan earthquake, she visited her home province. She brought tennis balls and rackets to give to the children there.

Zheng keeps small pieces of her ankle bone in a tiny bottle. These pieces were removed during her ankle surgery in 2007. She says she keeps them because they are a part of her. They remind her to be thankful for being able to play tennis again and for life in general. She believes that even though the injury made her ranking drop, it also helped her grow a lot.

In 2009, Zheng decided to manage her career on her own, separate from the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA). She said the CTA had supported her during injuries and tough times. Now, she handles her own money. This means more risk, but also more reward when she wins.

In April 2016, Zheng shared on social media that she had welcomed her first child.

Zheng Jie's Playing Style

Zheng's tennis game is known for being very steady and smart. She has quick reactions and a strong fighting spirit. She might not be the strongest player, but she makes up for it by thinking carefully about where to hit the ball. She is also willing to change her game plan if something isn't working. Her shots are fast and well-placed, making her great at defending and hitting back. She moves very well around the court, which helps her return shots that most players would miss. After a match in 2005, another player called Zheng's game "The Great Wall of China" because "she didn't miss one ball." She is also good at playing close to the net in doubles. Her best shot is her backhand. Her main weakness is her serve, but she often makes up for it with her speed or by serving to tricky spots.

Zheng Jie's Singles Career Highlights

Zheng Jie's singles career saw her steadily climb the rankings and achieve significant milestones.

Early Career: 2002–2005

In 2002, Zheng won two smaller tournaments and reached the second round of a WTA event in Shanghai. By the end of the year, she was ranked world No. 183. In 2003, she continued to improve, reaching her first WTA semifinal at the Japan Open. She also won her first $50k title in the Bronx. By the end of 2003, she broke into the top 100, ranking No. 93.

In 2004, Zheng made a big splash at the French Open. She reached the fourth round, becoming the first Chinese woman to do so at a major event. She also won a $25k tournament in Beijing. She finished the year ranked No. 67.

Zheng started 2005 by winning her first WTA Tour singles title in Hobart. She also reached another final in Rabat, Morocco. These strong results helped her reach a career-high ranking of world No. 42 in October 2005.

Zheng Jie at the 2005 Australian Open

Grand Slam Success and Injuries: 2006–2008

The year 2006 was huge for Zheng in doubles, where she won two Grand Slam titles. In singles, she won tournaments in Estoril and Stockholm. She also won a gold medal in singles at the Asian Games in Doha. A knee injury later in 2006 affected her singles play.

In 2007, Zheng faced challenges due to an ankle injury. This injury forced her to miss many tournaments, including Wimbledon, where she was the defending doubles champion. Her ranking dropped significantly to world No. 163.

Zheng at the 2007 Australian Open

Zheng made a strong comeback in 2008. She qualified for the French Open and reached the third round. Her biggest achievement came at Wimbledon. As a wildcard entry, ranked No. 133, she surprised everyone by reaching the semifinals. She beat the world No. 1, Ana Ivanovic, along the way. This made her the first Chinese woman to reach a Grand Slam singles semifinal. Her performance boosted her ranking to No. 40. At the Beijing Olympics, she won a bronze medal in doubles with Yan Zi. She also reached the third round of the US Open. For her amazing return, she received the WTA Tour "Comeback of the Year" award for 2008.

Continuing Success and Retirement: 2009–2015

In 2009, Zheng continued her strong play. She reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the Monterrey Open. In May, she reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 15.

Zheng had another great run at the Australian Open in 2010, reaching the semifinals. She also won two doubles titles that year. However, a wrist injury forced her to miss the end of the 2010 season and the start of 2011.

Zheng at the 2014 Australian Open

She returned to the tour in 2011, slowly regaining her form. She reached the semifinals of the Osaka Open, ending the year ranked No. 48.

In 2012, Zheng started the year by winning the Auckland Open, her first singles title since 2006. She also reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. She continued to play in various tournaments, ending the year ranked No. 26.

In 2013, Zheng reached the third round of the Australian Open and the French Open. At the US Open, she won a very long match against Venus Williams in the second round.

Zheng in Melbourne, 2014

In 2014, Zheng reached the third round of the Australian Open. She also made it to the final of the Rosmalen Open on grass.

Zheng played her last professional matches in 2015. She reached the doubles final at the Australian Open with Chan Yung-jan. After Wimbledon 2015, Zheng stopped playing professional tennis. She no longer holds a professional ranking.

Other Important Finals

Grand Slam Doubles Titles

Zheng Jie won two Grand Slam doubles titles with her partner Yan Zi.

• 2006 Australian Open: They beat Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur.
• 2006 Wimbledon: They beat Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez.

She also reached the final of the 2015 Australian Open in doubles with Chan Yung-jan.

Other Major Doubles Titles

Zheng also won three big doubles titles at Premier Mandatory/Premier 5 tournaments:

• 2006 German Open: With Yan Zi.
• 2007 Charleston Cup: With Yan Zi.
• 2011 Italian Open: With Peng Shuai.

Olympic Medal

Zheng Jie won an Olympic medal for China:

• 2008 Beijing Olympics: Bronze medal in women's doubles with Yan Zi.

Images for kids

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  Zheng Jie at the 2009 US Open

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• Chinese tennis players
• Tennis in China