Advantage Zheng as fans rally to support
Hometown hero is an inspirational figure as she courts ever-growing success
Even the roar of the capacity crowd after every point won or the supportive chants of "Come on, Zheng Qinwen" after any misstep fail to fully capture how popular "Queen Wen" is in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province.
To fully grasp her reach, you need only stroll through the city's streets, where her face appears on bus stops and giant outdoor screens. Wuhan even lit up the Yangtze River on Tuesday in her honor to celebrate her 22nd birthday.
In Wuhan, Zheng is more than just a rising tennis star — she's a hometown sensation.
"Since I got back to Wuhan, the attention has been overwhelming," Zheng said. "It's been nonstop with events and appearances, but I'm loving every bit of it. It's surreal to see my photos all over the city!"
In recent days, tennis fans have flocked to the Optics Valley International Tennis Center in Wuhan, where Queen Wen has been a constant presence. The Wuhan Open, which kicked off on Monday, featured her as a guest at the opening ceremony. The next day, the tournament threw a special celebration for her birthday, cementing her status as Wuhan's tennis queen.
