Tennis star Zheng Qinwen sparks split speculation after unfollowing coach on social media
Spanish former player Pere Riba has been widely credited with helping the Olympic champion reach the top level of the women’s game
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen has unfollowed her coach Pere Riba on social media, reigniting speculation that one of tennis’s most closely watched partnerships could be about to change again.
Chinese fans quickly spotted that Riba no longer appeared among the accounts Zheng follows on Instagram, and the 23-year-old also added a quote from philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche – “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how” – to her profile.
Fresh doubts over the long-term future of the coaching arrangement emerged last week, when Zheng was seen training at the Barcelona Pro Tennis Academy with Jordi Arrese, the former Olympic silver medallist who coached Riba when he was a player.
Riba, a former Spanish professional, has been widely credited with helping Zheng take the next step in her career on tour, guiding her through breakthrough runs at grand slams and Olympic success.
The pair first linked up when Zheng was 18, fresh from the juniors and ranked outside the top 150.
Between 2021 and 2023, under Riba’s guidance, Zheng completed her transition from junior to full-time professional, surging into the world’s top 20 and laying the foundation for her push towards reaching the game’s elite.