Zheng Qinwen's parents made a significant sacrifice by selling their family home to support her tennis aspirations, and now she stands as an Olympic champion and China's most prominent sports figure. The 21-year-old athlete is competing on home soil for the first time since becoming the first Chinese player to secure an Olympic singles tennis gold medal at the Paris Games. Her performance at the China Open did not falter; she dominated her opening match against the 71st-ranked Russian Kamilla Rakhimova, winning 6-1, 6-1 in front of a passionate Beijing crowd on Saturday. Zheng was overwhelmed by the electrifying atmosphere, describing it as 'insane' and admitting she had rarely witnessed such a full stadium. 'I was a little bit shocked,' said Zheng, who trains in Barcelona and currently holds a career-best ranking of seven in the world, with expectations of climbing higher. Zheng's success has translated into substantial earnings, surpassing $5 million in prize money, and she boasts numerous endorsements from global giants like Nike and Rolex. Off the court, she has graced the covers of prestigious magazines such as GQ and Harper's Bazaar. Dubbed 'Queen Wen' in China, Zheng has claimed three WTA Tour titles and reached her maiden Grand Slam final at this year's Australian Open. Despite being comprehensively defeated 6-3, 6-2 by defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne, Zheng faced another loss to the Belarusian in straight sets at the recent US Open. The world number two, who went on to win the US Open, is the top seed in Beijing this week and could potentially face Zheng in the semifinals. Zheng believes she is a stronger player now than she was in Melbourne, and with the home crowd's support, she could be a formidable opponent. She is set to face Argentina's Nadia Podoroska in the third round. Local fan Michelle Zhang, whose two children play tennis, expressed admiration for Zheng's contributions to the country. Friend Adele Xue added, 'She demonstrated that Chinese people can excel in tennis.' Zheng grew up idolizing Li Na, the pioneering Chinese player who won two Grand Slam titles. Li's 2011 French Open victory made her the first Asian player to win a major singles title. Li hails from Wuhan, where Zheng relocated as a child to pursue her tennis dreams. Following the China Open, Wuhan is the next stop on the WTA Tour, and Zheng is eager to claim a victory there. Known for her approachable and friendly demeanor off the court, Zheng is fiercely competitive on it. She exhibited talent in various sports as a child, and her father, Zheng Jianping, was a track-and-field athlete. Jianping revealed that Zheng's interest in tennis was sparked during a trip to Beijing to watch the Olympics when she was six. Upon returning, Zheng began learning tennis, and her potential was quickly recognized by talent scouts. Two years later, her father moved her from Shiyan to Wuhan for professional training. 'One of the best things about this child is that she never gives up,' said her Wuhan coach, Yu Liqiao. After winning Olympic gold in Paris, Zheng disclosed that her father had sold the family home to fund her tennis career during her teenage years. Her mother, Deng Fang, worked at a railway station selling tickets but quit to ensure Zheng had proper rest and nutrition for training. Zheng was among the millions of Chinese tennis fans who watched Li Na's Australian Open victory in 2014. At just 11 years old, Zheng confidently stated her ambitions to compete in Grand Slams and vie for championships.