Zheng Qinwen explains change of shoes after another mid-game stoppage in London

China’s Zheng Qinwen has spoken about her struggle to find a usable pair of shoes for grass-court tennis after again changing footwear at the Queen’s Club Championships in London.

Olympic champion Zheng changed her shoes during the sixth game of the deciding set of her semi-final defeat by Amanda Anisimova of the United States on Saturday.

She had already drawn an unimpressed response from the home crowd when she changed shoes mid-game in Friday’s quarter-final win over Emma Raducanu, opting to do so as the Briton prepared to serve at break point down. Zheng had skidded on the grass moments earlier. After a delay to insert soles and tie her laces, she proceeded to break Raducanu for the first time.

Pausing to change equipment is permitted, and Zheng held up a hand by way of apology, but that delay was sandwiched by two others to change racquet, leading Raducanu to comment about the stoppages.

“I think the fact it happened three times on my serve, I feel like maybe something could have been done [by the umpire], but I’m not going to get into it,” she said afterwards.

“Change your shoes, Emma,” a spectator had reportedly shouted during one of Zheng’s later service games.