[Twendypreency]

from Zheng's presser:

Q. Since you said you gave your money for earthquake victims, I'd like to know how much you can keep of the prize money and how much instead the government takes out of your money. There is a percentage they keep and you can give just your part of the money, or also the part of the government?

JIE ZHENG: (In English.) It's a hard question.

THE MODERATOR: We're here to talk about the tennis as such.

Q. Is part of the tennis. Tennis is part of the life.

JIE ZHENG: (Through translation.) First of all, of course I will donate all my portion. Apart from that, I will do as much as I can to help the Sichuan region people because I'm from Sichuan province, as well. After going back after the Wimbledon, when I go back, I will do more charity work and encourage more people come to support the stricken region and hope people from Sichuan will have their new home as soon as possible.

Q. She's planning on giving her entire winnings?

THE MODERATOR: We're here to do tennis questions. We've been through that.

Q. No, that an incredible, charitable donation on her part.

THE MODERATOR: We are running out of time for English questions.

Q. We are here to work. We are not to listen to just sets, games and points. It's relevant.

THE MODERATOR: Do you want to answer that question?

JIE ZHENG: (In English.) Yeah, it's a very hard question for me, because in China sometime it's a different pression. If you play so well, you have the more pression for you. So I would like to give the all prize money but cannot, you know. I need give back to something like the tennis association, like this one.

http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/...934927875.html

[Twendypreency]

I thought Peng would be the one to pull a Zvereva. But I wonder if Zheng is giving it any thought?

[Oberjej]

Wow. Sad.

[Twendypreency]

Wow. Sad.

Anyone know exactly who "The Moderator" was?

[BuyCheapest]

Mary Carillo was talking about this during the match.

The Moderator must be proud of himself. But then I guess he was protecting her from any question she might accidentally stumble on.

[Kimaamighed]

Mary Carillo was talking about this during the match.

The Moderator must be proud of himself. But then I guess he was protecting her from any question she might accidentally stumble on.

Sounds like there was a lot of pressure on her to answer the question..... I wish they would have let her just enjoy her win for the day.

[Twendypreency]

Sounds like there was a lot of pressure on her to answer the question..... I wish they would have let her just enjoy her win for the day.

My guess is that you have some people hoping they could bait her into trashing the Chinese Federation, morct. Which would not have happened, but that doesn't mean they won't try. I'm sure she has "handlers" from the Chinese Fed as part of her entourage that attend every presser just in case she needs a reminder glass of water.

[Oberjej]

Anyone know exactly who "The Moderator" was?

Good question, Moose. I've never seen a match interview where a moderator mandated that the discussion must be related to tennis.... Some post-match pressers have virtually nothing to do with tennis.

Very odd.

Methinks Peng is still the leading candidate to defect from China to, well, ANYTHING else... I'm not seeing the same obstinance here. I'm see, "Well, crap. I'd like to help the people from my part of the country. But it's not up to me what I do with all of my earnings, and that's just the way it is."

Or maybe I'm missing something? Which is always possible...

[Kimaamighed]

My guess is that you have some people hoping they could bait her into trashing the Chinese Federation, morct. Which would not have happened, but that doesn't mean they won't try. I'm sure she has "handlers" from the Chinese Fed as part of her entourage that attend every presser just in case she needs a reminder glass of water.

I don't doubt it for a minute Moose.

[Kimaamighed]

Good question, Moose. I've never seen a match interview where a moderator mandated that the discussion must be related to tennis.... Some post-match pressers have virtually nothing to do with tennis.

Very odd.

Methinks Peng is still the leading candidate to defect from China to, well, ANYTHING else... I'm not seeing the same obstinance here. I'm see, "Well, crap. I'd like to help the people from my part of the country. But it's not up to me what I do with all of my earnings, and that's just the way it is."

Or maybe I'm missing something? Which is always possible...

I would imagine that the player/handlers can request beforehand what questions they want to avoid. I know when Lleyton and Kim broke up the moderators often deflected the questions from their personal lives, and back on to tennis.

[Twendypreency]

Good question, Moose. I've never seen a match interview where a moderator mandated that the discussion must be related to tennis.... Some post-match pressers have virtually nothing to do with tennis.

Very odd.

I've seen interviews where the Moderator jumps in to allow for questions in another language, or to move the questioning along, or to say one more question....but I've not read one in I cannot tell you how long where the moderator is saying something in between almost every question like this.

I'm sure it was done to protect her. And that both scares, and disheartens me.

[km2000]

Kudos to the interviewer for not backing down. I wonder who it was.

[km2000]

A mod will step in when the question is asked repeatedly. Like in Sveta's USO presser about her great draw once Maria was knocked out. They all wanted to know what she thought and they kept asking and asking. The Zheng interview room must have been tense!

[Twendypreency]

anyone old enough enough of a long time fan to remember Natasha's French Open interviews. I only know the story from the Bud Collins throwdown forward. Wish I remembered the French interviews.

[bomondus]

Kudos to the interviewer for not backing down. I wonder who it was.

No kudos from me. It'd be a great headline if she slipped up, but it would probably ruin her life.

[km2000]

No kudos from me. It'd be a great headline if she slipped up, but it would probably ruin her life.

Sometimes difficulty in answering a question can be headlines enough. He or she is a journalist, they can't shy away from asking questions out of fear.

[Oberjej]

No kudos from me. It'd be a great headline if she slipped up, but it would probably ruin her life.

Or get her incarcerated... But only after she loses in Beijing.

I said it in the thread today, and I'll say it again... I'm thrilled for her... But I wouldn't want to endure the pressure she's going to be under after this result. The expectation landscape now for an Olympic SINGLES medal in Beijing for the Chinese has changed dramatically. I wouldn't want to be her.

[maxuilg]

I'm not sure this is the right forum to encourage or bait Zheng to trash or criticize or take a stance on something that she will obviously suffer severe reprecussion from.

This is a remarkable remarkable achievement for her and I think like others, they should just let her enjoy the day.....and challenge her on the Chinese Federation another time at like say....when she emigrates to the United States and is no longer, nor is her family no longer in any danger.

I don't think that we should judge those in Zheng's postion for not speaking handily about things like the oppressive Chinese Federation when she and her family may be in danger or suffer repercussions

While the abuses that the Chinese athletes suffer should be brought to light....we don't get to pick or chose who, when and where. We should let the athletes choose for themselves and respect those who choose tradition, family and their oppresive regimes over speaking out

The moderator did a good job of moving things along.....and the interviewer....ahhhh typical interviewer!

But as for me....I'm dismayed that Zheng won't be able to keep her earnings She rightfully deserves every bit of them and......if the Chnese government can afford to build all those skyscrappers and new buildings and host the 2008 olympics...then they can take care of those devastated people and let Zheng keep her earnings. They are going to come under heavy heavy criticism from the international community if Zheng doesn't get to keep her earnings....

[Twendypreency]

Regardless of the political angle (if that's even possible in this situation), it's also sad that she claims to want to give her entire winnings to those suffering in her home region due to the earthquake, and yet she is not allowed to under the Association rules.

[Twendypreency]

But as for me....I'm dismayed that Zheng won't be able to keep her earnings She rightfully deserves every bit of them and......if the Chnese government can afford to build all those skyscrappers and new buildings and host the 2008 olympics...then they can take care of those devastated people and let Zheng keep her earnings. They are going to come under heavy heavy criticism from the international community if Zheng doesn't get to keep her earnings....

That's why I referenced Natasha, MissinAndre. Who will probably always be the most respected tennis player, in my book.

She risked everything. Her career. Her family's , and her own safety. And she won. It might have been foolish, but the story is incredible.

That's the tennis book that I hope gets written someday. I think Natasha would have a most inspiring story to tell.