PENG IS A LATE BLOOMER, AND SHE IS BLOOMING @ THE 2014 U.S. OPEN

Written by: Staff on 3rd September 2014

PENG IS A LATE BLOOMER, AND SHE IS BLOOMING @ THE 2014 U.S. OPEN

epa04371028 Shuai Peng of China reacts after upsetting Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during the third day of the 2014 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, Meadows, New York, USA, 27 August 2014. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Like her sadly absent countrywoman Li Na, US Open semi-finalist Peng Shuai is something of a late bloomer when it comes to contending for Grand Slam singles titles.

However the 28 year-old’s success in New York is even more amazing after she revealed undergoing surgery 16 years ago to correct a congenital heart defect that was genetically inherited from her mother.

“It was with me when I was born,” she explained in her broken English. “You know, it was like the blood went one way with the air didn’t. And then something mixed it so they have to make them separate.

“I had to stop for one year but then afterwards it was OK for me to play sport. After doing the surgery I have to recover and wait.

“They say it was actually quite big surgery. They say because if I kept playing they would worry about me having a problem. But after the surgery I was fine to play.”

Shuai Peng of China hits a return to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during their quarterfinals match on the ninth day of the 2024 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 02 September 2024. The US Open runs through 08 September, a 15-day schedule. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

Peng was understandably emotional after her 6-2,6-1 win over 17 year-old Belinda Bencic and she said: “It’s an amazing time for me.

“It’s a long time to play, a long time in my career. So many times I thought to give up, to stop playing. But my coach and my parents tell me to keep fighting, to keep playing and never give up, hopeful that this day would come.

“It’s an amazing time for me. It’s a little bit too exciting. I love tennis but it’s a long time my career, it’s been tough sometimes. I was thinking about giving up because I don’t know if I can make it.”

Peng has enjoyed doubles success in recent times, winning the 2013 Wimbledon title and the 2014 Ferench Open title with Taipei’s Hsieh Su-wei. Ironically this tournament, in which they lost in the fourth round, was their last together.

However Peng refused to divulge details on exactly why the pair have decided to go their separate ways.

Topics: 2014 US Open, Belinda Bencic, Peng Shuai, Tennis, Tennis News