Qinwen Zheng rallied past Madison Keys 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Round of 16 at the Miami Open. She discussed her updated coaching team, including new addition Marcos Baghdatis and returning long-time coach Pere Riba. Next, she faces Aryna Sabalenka in their ninth meeting.
Qinwen Zheng showed resilience in her comeback win over Madison Keys at the Miami Open, advancing to the Round of 16 after elbow surgery. The victory highlights her return to form, with improved timing and mental toughness evident on court. Post-match, Zheng addressed questions about her coaching changes during the press conference and on-court interview. She confirmed adding Marcos Baghdatis, a former top-8 player and 2006 Australian Open finalist who retired in 2019, starting at Indian Wells. 'Marcos is new. He joined at Indian Wells. I really hope we can work well together. But we are still in a trial period,' Zheng said. She emphasized her ongoing partnership with Pere Riba, with whom she has worked for five years. Rumors of a split were dispelled: 'I have not ended my collaboration with Riba... He is just temporarily away from the team for a period of rest.' Riba has now rejoined for the Miami Open, with Baghdatis currently leading sessions. 'I always wanted to add a second coach. I really believe Pere Riba is also helping me a lot,' she noted. Reflecting on her time off, Zheng shared, 'I think it’s nice to compete with all the girls… My body likes pressure. During this 6 months when I’m without pressure, I feel my life is so boring, honestly so boring without tennis.' This is not Zheng's first coaching adjustment; past collaborators include Wim Fissette and Dante Bottini amid Riba's absences for health reasons. Riba's guidance helped her reach the 2024 Australian Open final, Olympic gold, and No. 5 ranking. Ahead lies a matchup with Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Caty McNally 6-4, 6-2. Zheng seeks her second win in their last three encounters.
