Qinwen Zheng’s rise to the top of tennis has been shaped by far more than her powerful groundstrokes and relentless athleticism. Behind the 23-year-old Chinese star, 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist and one of the biggest names in women’s tennis is a family story built around sacrifice, discipline and a father who was determined to see his daughter’s potential become reality.
That father is Zheng Jianping, a former provincial-level track and field athlete who took an intensely hands-on approach to Qinwen’s development. From controlling her diet and training to taking enormous financial risks to keep her career moving, Jianping’s methods have attracted plenty of attention over the years.
Some of the stories surrounding Qinwen’s childhood are difficult to imagine today, including an incident in which Jianping reportedly slapped his daughter during a junior tournament after becoming frustrated with her body language. There was also a period when the family’s finances became so stretched that he almost sold their home to continue funding her tennis career.
Yet Qinwen has repeatedly acknowledged the role her parents played in helping her develop the mentality that eventually took her to an Olympic gold medal.
Qinwen Zheng’s Father Jianping and His ‘Tiger Parenting’ Approach
Jianping was determined from an early age to maximize Qinwen’s athletic potential. His own experience as a track and field athlete shaped his belief that success in sport required discipline, sacrifice and an extraordinary amount of physical work.
Rather than leaving Qinwen’s development entirely to China’s state sporting system, Jianping chose to take significant personal responsibility for her career. That meant taking on the financial burden of international training, coaching and travel while also closely managing her daily routine.
His approach was demanding, but it was based on a simple belief: Qinwen had the talent to become an elite athlete, and he did not want a lack of resources or discipline to stand in the way.
Did Qinwen Zheng’s Father Almost Sell the Family House?
One of the most striking stories from Qinwen’s childhood concerns the enormous financial pressure her tennis career placed on the family.
As Qinwen entered her teenage years, the cost of developing an international-level tennis player grew rapidly. Training in Europe, competing internationally and working with experienced coaches reportedly cost the family around CNY 3 million, or roughly $420,000, a year.
Jianping ultimately spent close to CNY 20 million, approximately $3 million, trying to give his daughter the opportunity to succeed before her career became financially sustainable.
At one point, the family had exhausted much of its financial resources, leaving Jianping with the possibility of selling the family home to continue paying for Qinwen’s development.
Qinwen later explained just how far her father was willing to go:
“My dad almost sold our house to fund my tennis lessons. He knew I had potential, and wanted to give all he could to realize my dream.”
The detail has become one of the clearest examples of the financial risk the family took before Qinwen became a professional star.
The Famous ‘Wakeup’ Slap From Qinwen Zheng’s Father
Perhaps the most talked-about story from Qinwen’s junior years involves an incident that has followed her family story ever since.
During a junior tournament in Wuhan, Qinwen was struggling with her game and began displaying negative body language. She was frustrated by her errors and, according to accounts of the incident, appeared to be giving up on points.
Jianping was watching from the side and was furious with what he saw as a lack of fighting spirit.
He eventually slapped Qinwen during a changeover, in front of people at the tournament.
The incident has understandably attracted considerable attention, but Jianping viewed it as a wake-up call intended to snap his daughter out of her emotional slump. His philosophy throughout Qinwen’s development was that talent meant little without the willingness to work relentlessly.
That mentality became a defining part of Qinwen’s game.
Her ability to keep fighting through difficult matches has become one of her biggest strengths, and her parents have often been credited with helping instill that competitive mentality.
Qinwen Zheng’s Strict Diet: Chicken, Broccoli and No Soda
Jianping’s influence extended well beyond what happened during matches.
Qinwen’s diet was closely controlled during her childhood and teenage years. Snacks, fast food and carbonated drinks were kept off the menu as her father focused on building the physical foundation he believed she needed to become a professional athlete.
Her meals were heavily centered around clean, simple foods, with chicken and broccoli becoming staples.
The training regime was similarly demanding.
When Qinwen showed signs of fatigue during tennis sessions, Jianping would sometimes take her to local athletics tracks, where she was made to run sprints and climb stairs until she reached the required level of fitness.
It was a routine designed to build not only physical strength but also the ability to continue competing when her body was tired.
Why the Olympics Were So Important to Qinwen Zheng’s Father
For Jianping, the Olympic Games carried a special significance.
His own background as a track and field athlete meant he viewed the Olympics as the ultimate stage in sport. Grand Slam titles were obviously important, but winning an Olympic medal for China represented something even bigger in his eyes.
That goal was planted in Qinwen’s mind from a young age.
Years later, she delivered exactly what her father had dreamed about.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Qinwen defeated Iga Swiatek in the semifinals before beating Donna Vekic in the gold-medal match. She became the first Chinese player to win an Olympic singles gold medal.
For Qinwen, the achievement was about much more than another trophy.
It was the fulfillment of a dream that her father had spoken about throughout her childhood.
Qinwen Zheng’s Mother Deng Fang and Her Sacrifice
Jianping was not the only member of the family who made major sacrifices for Qinwen’s tennis career.
Her mother, Deng Fang, left her job selling train tickets at a railway station so she could travel with her daughter and support her development.
Her role was different from Jianping’s. While he focused heavily on the sporting and financial side of Qinwen’s development, Deng took care of many of the day-to-day details that allowed a young athlete to maintain such a demanding schedule.
Her responsibilities included Qinwen’s diet, sleep and recovery as the family moved between training locations and tournaments.
Together, Qinwen’s parents built a lifestyle around their daughter’s tennis career long before there was any guarantee that the enormous investment would pay off.
Qinwen Zheng’s Remarkable 2026 US Open Comeback
The sacrifices made during Qinwen’s childhood have become particularly relevant during her remarkable run at the 2026 US Open.
After dealing with a chronic elbow injury and undergoing major surgery, Zheng entered the tournament ranked No. 121 in the world. She therefore had to come through qualifying just to reach the main draw.
What followed was an extraordinary run.
Qinwen survived six matches to reach the fourth round, including a dramatic comeback against American favorite Madison Keys. The victory sent her into the second week of the tournament and set up a blockbuster meeting with No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek.
Al Bello/Getty Images
The match is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. EDT at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
From nearly selling the family home to funding her tennis lessons to winning Olympic gold and now battling her way back from injury, Qinwen’s career has already taken her through some remarkable highs and lows.
And behind much of that journey has been Zheng Jianping, whose demanding approach to his daughter’s development remains one of the most fascinating family stories in modern tennis.
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