Zheng Qinwen stated that the feeling on grass determines whether there will be a long-term collaboration, will Nadal's esteemed coach stay or go?

After Wimbledon, the question of whether Zheng Qinwen will continue to work with Nadal's former coach Roig has once again become a focal point of interest.

Previously, many people noticed that Zheng Qinwen's team suddenly had an additional member, mainly starting from the training before Wimbledon. Once the identity of this person was uncovered, it quickly ignited public discourse.

Some directly stated that they never imagined Nadal's esteemed coach Roig would work with Zheng Qinwen. Given that someone of his caliber has many preferential choices, and the likelihood of coaching male players is much higher, it is indeed hard to fathom why he would be willing to coach Zheng Qinwen.

In an interview, Zheng Qinwen also mentioned that Roig's joining was thanks to coach Pere Riba. The two are fellow countrymen from Spain, and this connection allowed Riba to personally persuade Roig, increasing the chances compared to others reaching out.

Roig, who joined Nadal's team in 2005 and left in 2017, made significant contributions over an 18-year period, helping the Spanish legend secure 22 Grand Slam titles. Notably, Nadal's two Wimbledon victories and four grass court titles further demonstrate Roig's exceptional training and coaching effectiveness on grass.

Roig left Nadal's team in 2022 to coach Berrettini, where he quickly created a remarkable chemistry. In just three months of collaboration with the Italian, he helped Berrettini secure three titles.

Transforming the former clay court specialist Nadal into a grass court expert and then shining with Berrettini highlights Roig's impressive abilities.

“He joined the team after I finished the Queen's Cup. He has a wealth of experience, and I believe this veteran coach's insights will provide me with a unique experience. I got in touch with him through Riba, and we brainstormed a bit; his 18 years of coaching Nadal should bring me a lot of valuable insights.” From Zheng Qinwen's comments, it's clear she highly recognizes Roig's capabilities, further reinforcing the belief that with the support of this esteemed coach, the Chinese ace will gain significantly during the grass season.

After Roig began working with Zheng Qinwen, his adjustments included the following: encouraging her to repeatedly practice high-pressure shots at the net and requiring her to lower her center of gravity to handle low bounces; adjusting her serve placement. These changes are clearly aimed at enhancing Zheng Qinwen's competitiveness on grass.

When discussing training with Roig, Zheng Qinwen expressed satisfaction with his work, stating that his arrival has indeed made her feel completely different from before.

Unfortunately, this strong partnership did not lead Zheng Qinwen to achieve her desired results at Wimbledon, as she was eliminated in the first round by Siniakova, causing an uproar in public opinion!

From the high expectations before Wimbledon to bringing in the esteemed Roig for assistance, the final outcome fell far short of both Zheng Qinwen's and the public's expectations. Now that Wimbledon has concluded, many are eager to know whether her collaboration with Roig will come to an abrupt end.

“Currently, we will assess how we both feel during the grass season, and then see if we will have a long-term collaboration.” Zheng Qinwen previously stated in an interview that her current relationship with Roig is a short-term collaboration, and whether it will transition into a long-term partnership depends on how they feel after Wimbledon. Now, after being eliminated in the first round, the public naturally wants to know if this will affect their continued collaboration and whether Roig will leave quietly like the previous two temporary coaches did.

The public commentary on this matter suggests that Zheng Qinwen is unlikely to let Roig go easily.

According to insiders, the Chinese ace exerted considerable effort to bring this esteemed coach on board to assist her.

“Her team spent nearly three months persuading and successfully hiring this renowned coach skilled in grass court training to support Zheng Qinwen's preparations!” This detail from the source indicates that Zheng Qinwen is particularly eager to collaborate with Roig, and having finally brought him on board, it seems unreasonable for her to let him leave so soon. Even if this Wimbledon ended in a first-round exit, it can be viewed as a learning experience, and she should focus on the long term.

Additionally, some believe that there is another reason for the potential continuation of Zheng Qinwen and Roig's collaboration. Previously, there were rumors that Zheng Qinwen planned to emulate Coco Gauff by adopting a dual-coach model. Now that Roig is here, it would be entirely feasible to define clear roles between him and Pere Riba, allowing the first-round exit at Wimbledon to be set aside.

However, others argue that even if Zheng Qinwen wishes to retain Roig, it ultimately depends on whether this esteemed coach is willing to stay; she may not have the upper hand.

The reasoning is that a renowned coach like Roig will certainly have his own criteria for collaborating with players. At the very least, Zheng Qinwen needs to demonstrate to Roig that she possesses potential on grass for this legendary coach to consider a long-term partnership. Otherwise, their collaboration at Wimbledon would not have been short-term; it would have already turned into a long-term arrangement.

Current public discourse on this matter reflects an equal divide between those who are optimistic about their continued collaboration and those who believe they will not work together. However, determining the final outcome is not difficult; when Zheng Qinwen appears on the court, simply observing whether Roig is present in her team will clarify everything.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Moon River's Starry Sky)