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Qinwen Zheng Says No Smiles or Hugs if She Loses

Qinwen Zheng explained her post-match behavior at the Australian Open.
Pat Benson|
Qinwen shakes hand with Anca Todoni after the women's singles first round match at 2025 Australian Open.
Qinwen shakes hand with Anca Todoni after the women's singles first round match at 2025 Australian Open. | IMAGO / Xinhua

Perhaps no sport focuses on handshakes after competition more than tennis. It is an individual sport with no equipment to hide behind, and player's personalities are on full display.

Of the many colorful personalities on the WTA Tour, few garner more attention after matches than Qinwen Zheng. The World No.5 is known for giving ultra-quick handshakes and making faces that go viral online with tennis fans.

Even after Zheng defeated Anca Todoni in their first-round match at the 2025 Australian Open, the Chinese superstar's sportsmanship was the topic of discussion.

Zheng defeated Todoni in straight sets: 7-6, 6-1. Yet, she was asked what she thought about handshakes after matches. Below is a video from The Tennis Letter that shows her full answer.

Zheng explained, "I always give a handshake to my opponent. I feel that's basic respect. It doesn't matter if I win or lose; I will give a handshake."

She continued, "But not always with a smiling face — I know myself. And I don't often hug my opponent because I feel that's unnecessary. I come here just to play a match. If I lose, I will give basic respect, and that's it."

Zheng concluded, "That's why you wouldn't see me lose a match and then have a happy face towards my opponent. If you did, that would be strange and would mean I didn't care about that match on that day."

Zheng faces the winner of Laura Siegemund and Hailey Baptiste in the second round on January 15. Tennis fans can follow Sports Illustrated's Serve on SI for all the most important news from the sport.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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