Zheng recalled how she struggled for around six months after returning from injury, at times feeling as though she had forgotten how to compete. The difficult period, however, taught her to cope with outside criticism and rediscover her motivation.

　　“When I was at the lowest moment, everyone was saying I couldn"t come back. Everyone had doubts about me,” she said. “Finally, after going through many losses, I found my fire again when I"m playing competitive matches.”

　　“Tennis is not just about hitting the balls, it"s also about how much you want to win,” she noted.

　　The victory also carried special significance given her experience at last year"s China Open, where elbow problems forced her to retire from her match against Czech player Linda Noskova.

　　This time, she approached the tournament one match at a time rather than expecting to reach the final, let alone win the title. Across seven matches in 11 days, she said she had to contend not only with her opponents but also with her own doubts and weaknesses.

　　“I need to be aggressive, but also need to control my errors. At critical moments, I cannot be soft,” Zheng said, adding that she was pleased to have taken her opportunities at crucial moments in Beijing.

　　For Zheng, the experience of overcoming setbacks has also reshaped how she views a slump. She said she had initially expected her difficulties to last only a month or two, rather than six months.

　　“I learned to coexist with myself, to not be disrupted by those voices. All of those things make me stronger,” she said.