Advantage Zheng as fans rally to support

Now, Zheng returns as a vastly different player — an Olympic gold medalist and ranked No 7 in the world, entering the tournament as the No 5 seed.

"Five years ago, Wuhan gave me a wild card for the qualifiers. It was my first time on tour, and I was so nervous and inexperienced," she reflected. "It was also my first match against a professional, and I was beyond excited. I remember feeling like my opponent wasn't stronger than me, but I made so many unforced errors because I was just too emotional."

"Now, coming back as a top seed, my mentality is completely different. I feel more in control on the court, and every aspect of my game has improved since then," Zheng said.

Zheng still has her accreditation badge from the 2019 Wuhan Open hanging in her home. Reflecting on that first experience, she admitted that after falling in the first round of the qualifiers, and being so young, she hadn't paid much attention to the logistics or organization of the tournament.

Now, with years of experience on the tour, her return to Wuhan has given her a new appreciation for the event's meticulous planning and the organizers' attentiveness. "I can honestly say that Wuhan excels in certain details, and you all really take great care of the players," she said.