.The performance in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was populated with vermillion banners, incorporating a glow to the actually orangey air rising off the red clay-based court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" dozens themu00e2 $" waving in loud assistance for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who will very soon take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s single people ping pong final.As she set on the dirt, eyes skyward as well as fists extended into the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravitation seemed to sign up: Zheng had actually simply forged the type of record that prolonged far past the stadium and also the minute. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had created clear of the reality that the Olympics were actually as, or even even more, essential to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic victory on August 3.Image: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our company regularly think a countryu00e2 $ s respect is in front end of private effectiveness, u00e2 $ she said over an early morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete Residence, put quietly in between the Stade de France and the Aquatics Center in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis area, the day after her victory. u00e2 $ I dealt with [the Gamings] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotional state, the battle, the way of thinking: It felt different than every other competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Born in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began playing tennis at age seven. At grow older 8, she relocated, without her mama and dad, to Wuhan for better coaching, and also considering that adolescence she has profoundly marvelled at and also replicated Chinese athletes, such as the tennis star Li Na and the jogger Liu Xiang, that won gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was really difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng claimed, remembering at those very early days. u00e2 $ My mother used to follow check out on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I would secure her lower leg and also weep. When she was actually gone, I would certainly consistently hold her jacket. This was up until I was thirteen. After 13, my mommy made a decision to quit her work as well as come stick with me permanent, simply to possess far better growth and also far better care. Afterwards, it got much easier. And also our company moved to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.