Who are Qinwen Zheng’s parents? Meet Zheng Jianping and Deng Fang, the people behind her tennis journey

Qinwen Zheng’s rise in tennis has been closely linked to the support of her parents, Zheng Jianping and Deng Fang. The Chinese star was born in Shiyan, Hubei, and started playing sports as a young child before tennis became her main focus. Her parents soon realized that she had the talent and drive to go further. From changing cities for better coaching to making major personal sacrifices, they played a big role in her journey.Who are Qinwen Zheng’s parents, Zheng Jianping and Deng Fang?Qinwen’s father, Zheng Jianping, had a sporting background of his own. He competed in track and field events in Hubei and was part of the province’s second-level track team during his high school years. After leaving sports, he moved into business and later ran an auto parts company in Shiyan that dealt with cars, steel and construction materials.His own experience in sports helped him understand the hard work needed to compete at a high level. When Qinwen was young, Jianping encouraged her to try different sports. A moment when she chose to run instead of taking a ride in the family car helped him notice how much she enjoyed physical activity. Tennis eventually became the sport she wanted to pursue.Qinwen’s mother, Deng Fang, came from a very different work background. She studied railway transport and worked at railway stations in Hubei, including jobs involving ticket sales. Her role later changed when Qinwen’s tennis career became more demanding. Deng left her job so she could spend more time with her daughter and take care of her during training and travel.The two parents supported Qinwen in different ways. Her father focused heavily on her tennis development and the decisions around her career, while her mother handled much of the daily care. Qinwen has spoken about how important both parents have been to her success.Qinwen Zheng’s tennis journey and how her parents supported herQinwen was born on October 8, 2002, in Shiyan, Hubei. She began playing tennis locally when she was six, but her parents soon understood that she would need better coaching to develop properly. When she was eight, the family moved her to Wuhan, around 200 kilometers away, where she trained for several years.Her next move was to Beijing, where she received more advanced training. Then, at 17, Qinwen moved to Barcelona with her mother to continue her development and compete in Europe. By then, tennis had become a full-time commitment, and her family had built their lives around giving her the best chance to succeed.That path also came with a major financial cost. Qinwen has said her father made huge sacrifices to keep paying for her career, including selling the family home. Some reports have put the total amount spent on her development at around 20 million yuan, although that figure has not been independently confirmed.Deng’s sacrifice was just as important in a different way. After leaving her railway job, she stayed close to Qinwen and helped manage the everyday parts of her life, from meals and travel to making sure she had support away from the court.Qinwen has never hidden how much she values what her parents did for her. After winning Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, she credited them for helping her reach that level. Their approach was demanding, but it gave her the chance to build a career on her own terms.That support can still be seen in Qinwen’s attitude on court. Her ability to keep fighting when a match looks almost lost has become one of her biggest strengths. Behind that mindset is a childhood shaped by constant training, difficult moves and parents who were willing to change their own lives to help her chase a much bigger dream.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.