.The performance in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was populated with vermillion ensigns, including a glow to the presently orangey sky originating off the red clay-based court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" dozens themu00e2 $" swaying in energetic help for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who would certainly quickly take gold by defeating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s single people tennis final.As she put down on the filth, eyes skyward as well as fists stretched right into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravity seemed to be to register: Zheng had actually just shaped the sort of background that expanded far past the stadium as well as the instant. This was actually Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold award in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had actually made clear of the simple fact that the Olympics were actually as, or even additional, vital to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic triumph on August 3.Photograph: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, we always strongly believe a countryu00e2 $ s honor remains in front of personal success, u00e2 $ she mentioned over a morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Property, put inconspicuously between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis place, the day after her conquest. u00e2 $ I handled [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotional state, the fight, the attitude: It really felt different than intermittent competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began playing ping pong at age 7. At grow older 8, she moved, without her mother as well as dad, to Wuhan for far better training, and considering that teenage years she has deeply appreciated as well as replicated Mandarin professional athletes, including the ping pong celebrity Li Na as well as the distance runner Liu Xiang, that gained gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually definitely challenging, u00e2 $ Zheng claimed, remembering at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mama used to come browse through on weekends. When she left, I would certainly hold her lower leg and also cry. When she was gone, I would certainly always keep her jacket. This was actually up until I was actually 13. After thirteen, my mother decided to quit her work as well as come remain with me full time, merely to possess better growth and also far better treatment. After that, it obtained less complicated. And our company moved to Europe when I was actually 17. u00e2 $.