Sounds_Lin Zhu: Striving for the Olympics, Valuing Every Tournament Opportunity

In the first round of the 2024 Wimbledon Women’s Singles, Lin Zhu defeated Begu 6-0, 6-4, securing her first main draw victory at Wimbledon in three years and opening the tournament for Chinese players. She will next face Pavlyuchenkova in the second round.

Reflecting on the match, Lin Zhu analyzed, “I played very well in the first set, with hardly any unforced errors. My game style suits grass more, while she might be stronger on clay. I was quite determined and gradually found my rhythm on the grass. In the second set, she improved, making fewer mistakes, and I felt a bit nervous. In the last service game, I told myself to be more focused and not let her have easy points.”

Recently, the Chinese Tennis Association announced the roster for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and Lin Zhu missed out. She shared, “I’m still very sad. I knew it before, and I’ve cried several times. Since last year, all my preparations were centered around the Olympics. After the Australian Open, I had some health issues, but I persisted for the Olympic spot. Otherwise, I might have skipped some clay court tournaments, taken time to rest and treat my injuries. But with the schedule and points needed for the Olympics, I had to compete every week to seize opportunities. Not all efforts guarantee results. I’ll focus on my upcoming professional matches and treat my injuries after Wimbledon.”

Unlike Lin Zhu’s longing for the Olympics, many international players choose not to participate despite being eligible. Commenting on this, she said, “We Chinese have this Olympic sentiment, I guess (sighs). Why do I always end up crying when I talk about it? I’ve been nurtured within the system, and without the support of my country and region, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m grateful and cherish every chance to represent my country. However, clay isn’t my strongest surface, so even if I went, it might… From a national perspective, just having a patriotic heart isn’t enough; one needs the ability to achieve good results.”

As for competing until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Lin Zhu responded, “I won’t play until the next Olympics. It’s good to leave a little regret in life. There are many other things I want to do, but who knows – I might continue playing. I’ll play until my body no longer allows it, but the exact moment is unpredictable. For now, I’ll treasure each tournament as it could be my last one.”