In Pictures: Zheng Qinwen turns heads in stunning photoshoot, becomes first athlete to grace Vogue China cover amid Wuhan Open run

Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen has made history, becoming the first athlete—male or female—to ever appear on the cover of Vogue China. The glamorous photoshoot for the November issue, combined with an in-depth feature, comes just as Zheng is making waves at the 2024 Wuhan Open, where she has reached her first WTA 1000 final.

As the fifth seed, Zheng received a bye into the second round, then went on to defeat Jaqueline Cristian (6-2, 6-4), Leylah Fernandez (5-7, 6-3, 6-0), and third seed Jasmine Paolini (6-2, 3-6, 6-3).

The 22-year-old's 6-3, 6-4 victory over compatriot Wang Xinyu secured her a spot in the final, where she will face top seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka on October 13. This will be their fourth encounter on the WTA Tour, with Sabalenka triumphing in each of their three previous meetings.

Zheng's cover appearance in Vogue China follows her previous features in GQ China and Harper's Bazaar China. On October 12, 2024, Zheng shared various pictures from her Vogue cover shoot on Instagram, where she can be seen posing in glamorous outfits from Nike, Rahul Mishra, and Balenciaga.

Checkout the pictures here:

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"It shows my own understanding of fashion" - Zheng Qinwen on her Vogue cover shoot experience

Zheng Qinwen at the 2024 Wuhan Open (Image source: Getty)

Zheng Qinwen described the Vogue China photoshoot as the "most gratifying" experience, as it enabled her to showcase her personal fashion style.

The 22-year-old mentioned that her look combines strength and elegance, making her feel like royalty during the shoot.

"This shoot is the one I am most satisfied with because it shows my own understanding of fashion. Not only the cover but also the photos on the inside pages are my favorites. It combines the strength and beauty of athletes and also has a sense of fashion," Zheng said (translated from Chinese).

"I really like the makeup and hairstyle that is powerful, elegant, and full of aura. When I stand there, I feel that the whole person's aura is very strong, and I feel like a queen," she added.

Zheng shared that the final photos left her in awe, and she hoped her fans would appreciate the new direction she has taken.

"When I saw the final photos, I felt that my eyes lit up. This time I also tried a style that I had never tried before. I also hope that when fans see these pictures, they will feel that Zheng Qinwen has taken a different route this time," she said.

After her Wuhan Open campaign, Zheng Qinwen is scheduled to participate in the 2024 Ningbo Open (October 14-20) as the second seed.