.The performance in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was dotted along with vermillion banners, incorporating a glow to the presently orangey sky originating off the red clay-based court.These were Chinese flagsu00e2 $" manies themu00e2 $" waving in loud support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, that will very soon take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s singles tennis final.As she put down on the filth, eyes skyward as well as fists prolonged right into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravitation seemed to be to register: Zheng had actually only built the sort of background that stretched much past the coliseum as well as the second. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had actually created no secret of the fact that the Olympics were as, if not even more, crucial to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Photo: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team consistently feel a countryu00e2 $ s respect is in front of private results, u00e2 $ she pointed out over an early morning conference at Nikeu00e2 $ s Professional athlete Home, put quietly in between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis location, the time after her victory. u00e2 $ I alleviated [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the battle, the way of thinking: It felt various than intermittent event Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began playing tennis at age 7. At grow older 8, she relocated, without her mother and also dad, to Wuhan for far better training, and since adolescence she has greatly admired as well as replicated Mandarin professional athletes, like the tennis superstar Li Na and also the distance runner Liu Xiang, that succeeded gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually actually challenging, u00e2 $ Zheng stated, looking back at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mother made use of ahead see on weekend breaks. When she left, I would certainly secure her lower leg as well as cry. When she was actually gone, I would consistently hold her jacket. This was up until I was actually thirteen. After thirteen, my mommy chose to stop her work as well as happen remain with me full time, only to possess much better development as well as much better care. After that, it acquired simpler. As well as our experts transferred to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.