Zheng Qinwen, China's Olympic champion and world No. 5, found herself explaining her choice of footwear yet again after another mid-match shoe change at the Queen's Club Championships in London. The 22-year-old tennis star has had a challenging time finding suitable shoes for the grass court season, a factor that appears to have affected her performance in the semi-finals against American Amanda Anisimova, where she lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
During the semi-final match, Zheng changed her shoes in the sixth game of the deciding set. She revealed that she had noticed something was wrong with her shoes but didn't realize the sole had become unglued until the third set. Adding to the issue, the shoes she was wearing were old, dating back to her junior playing days, and had been unused until recently. Zheng explained that she hadn't received new grass-court shoes from her sponsor, Nike, in time for the tournament, leaving her with the older, less-than-ideal pair, which she found slippery.
This wasn't the first time Zheng's shoes had been a talking point at the Queen's Club Championships. In her quarterfinal match against British player Emma Raducanu, Zheng took a timeout in the first set to change her shoes after slipping several times. She later explained that she had been wearing shoes from last year's Wimbledon since arriving in London. While she knows when to change shoes on hard or clay courts, she admitted uncertainty about grass courts. She had even consulted her coach before her first match, but they decided to wait, and she felt fine initially.
The shoe change during the Raducanu match drew a mixed reaction from the crowd. According to reports, some spectators expressed their annoyance, with some sarcastic clapping, especially when Zheng changed her racquet mid-game as well. Raducanu, when asked about the interruptions, diplomatically noted that perhaps something could have been done by the umpire, especially as it happened three times on her serve, but she didn't want to dwell on it.
Zheng acknowledged that all details matter and admitted to learning a lesson. She expressed hope that she could prepare better in the future and avoid similar issues. Despite the shoe-related distractions, Zheng had a decent run at the Queen's Club Championships, ultimately losing in the semi-finals.
Looking ahead, Zheng is refocusing on Wimbledon, which begins on June 30, 2025, and runs through July 13. Despite early exits in the past two years, she remains confident in her grass-court abilities, attributing previous losses to injury and insufficient preparation. With Wimbledon fast approaching, Zheng will be keen to resolve her shoe situation and ensure she is fully prepared to compete at her best. She has a lucrative sponsorship deal with Nike, and will likely be looking to them to resolve this issue before the prestigious tournament begins.
