.The scene in the stands at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was populated along with vermillion banners, adding a glow to the currently orangey air emanating off the reddish clay court.These were actually Chinese flagsu00e2 $" dozens themu00e2 $" swaying in boisterous support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who would certainly quickly take gold by beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s songs ping pong final.As she lay down on the gunk, eyes skyward and also fists expanded right into the Paris fog, the winu00e2 $ s gravity seemed to be to register: Zheng had actually only created the type of background that stretched far past the arena and also the minute. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and also Zheng had made obvious of the fact that the Olympics were as, otherwise even more, essential to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng commemorates her Olympic success on August 3.Photograph: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our experts regularly believe a countryu00e2 $ s honor remains in front of private success, u00e2 $ she pointed out over an early morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Sportsmen House, tucked inconspicuously in between the Stade de France and also the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis area, the day after her accomplishment. u00e2 $ I addressed [the Video games] differentlyu00e2 $" the feeling, the fight, the way of thinking: It felt various than intermittent tournament Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng began playing tennis at grow older seven. At grow older 8, she relocated, without her mother and father, to Wuhan for far better coaching, and also because adolescence she has actually greatly admired and imitated Mandarin sportsmens, such as the ping pong superstar Li Na and the distance runner Liu Xiang, that succeeded gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was truly difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng mentioned, looking back at those early days. u00e2 $ My mother used to follow see on weekend breaks. When she left behind, I will hold her leg as well as weep. When she was actually gone, I would certainly always store her jacket. This was actually until I was actually thirteen. After thirteen, my mother decided to quit her project and also happen visit me full time, just to possess better development as well as better treatment. After that, it obtained simpler. And also we transferred to Europe when I was 17. u00e2 $.