"People say I look 40 years old" - Zheng Qinwen makes hilarious admission about her makeup after stunning in Dior for WTA Finals trophy photoshoot

Zheng Qinwen has made a hilarious admission about her makeup skills, joking about the need for some improvement after facing remarks about looking older than her age. The comments surfaced after the Chinese star posed alongside her fellow competitors at the 2024 WTA Finals gala.

Zheng recently made history by becoming the first athlete to grace the cover of Vogue China. At the WTA Finals gala in Riyadh, the 22-year-old cut a striking figure in a flowy red outfit, wearing a Dior silk taffeta blouse worth $2350 and a skirt worth $4200.

The World No. 7 was adorned with an intricate silver belt and an eye-catching butterfly necklace. She opted for a sophisticated updo and highlighted her cheekbones with a soft pink blush and matching lip color.

Speaking in her pre-tournament press conference, Zheng Qinwen disclosed that she felt very confident in front of the camera, which was a far cry from her photoshoots when she was 19 years old.

"Yes, I'm always very confidence in front of the camera. Not when I was 19 years old. I feel really weird. I always ask them, Please teach me some movement. Right now it's very flow, like I'm on the tennis court. It's the same for me," Zheng Qinwen said.

While the 22-year-old gushed over her "outstanding" Christian Dior dress for the WTA Finals gala, she humorously admitted that her makeup could use an upgrade, revealing that some Chinese fans felt she looked 40 years old in the photoshoot.

"The dress is really nice. It's from Christian Dior. Was outstanding dress for me. I feel the makeup maybe I can improve a bit (laughter). People say I look like 40 years old. The Chinese fans, they say that. I don't know why. Yes, maybe the makeup, next time I could do it better (smiling)," she said.

Zheng also expressed her admiration for her fellow players' looks for the evening, giving a special shoutout to Jasmine Paolini's style.

"Yeah, I see all of the girls. They were looking really good. I remember the Chinese fans, we say Jasmine Paolini also looking really good sitting by that chair, yeah," she added.

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Zheng Qinwen on WTA Finals clash against Aryna Sabalenka: "The trickiest part for me is how to really find a way to break through and trying to beat her"

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Zheng Qinwen in the 2024 Wuhan Open final (Source: Getty)

Zheng Qinwen is set to commence her campaign at the 2024 WTA Finals against Aryna Sabalenka on November 2. The World No. 1 enjoys a perfect 4-0 record against Zheng, including a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory in their most recent clash in the Wuhan Open final just a few weeks ago.

Looking ahead to their clash in Riyadh, Zheng disclosed that the "trickiest" challenge of facing the Belarusian was finding a way to break through and secure a win against her. Having taken a set off Sabalenka for the first time in Wuhan, the World No. 7 expressed confidence that she was getting closer to achieving her goal and outlined her strategies for their upcoming encounter.

"The trickiest part for me right now is how to really find a way to break through and trying to beat her. The last match, obviously I'm already more close," Zheng Qinwen said.

"If I'm able to really do something good, try to hold my serve well, try to break her in the early of the match, try to find a way to win, I think that's the most important. I feel the level is there, everything is there, but you have to show it during the match," she added.

Following her clash against Aryna Sabalenka, Zheng Qinwen will lock horns with Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini in the group stage of the year-end championships.