Opening Up and Embracing Each Other – The Secret of Cosine Interaction (Part 2)

Jayce September 6, 2024 1 0

Zheng Yu/Zhang Shuxian: A Duo with Complementary Emotional Dynamics

In the pairing of Zheng Yu and Zhang Shuxian, the dominant emotion is driven by Zheng Yu, while the source of the emotion comes from Zhang Shuxian. They have a generation gap and usually don’t share common topics of conversation. They are quite different in appearance, personality, communication style, and even in how they view their partnership.

There’s a common saying in doubles: “A good partner is like a spouse.” Two people who are never exactly the same come together, relying not only on mutual pursuit of each other’s strengths but also on the capacity to accept and tolerate one another. On a deeper level, it’s about hoping to guide each other towards a better direction and being willing to make sacrifices for it, with the other person also opening up their heart at their most vulnerable moments.

Communication: Giving Each Other Space

Zhang Shuxian’s personality is characterized by being typically passive and lacking confidence, which can be difficult for her partner to handle before getting to know her deeply. Moreover, to Zheng Yu, Zhang Shuxian has always been the “kid with a sulky face” since childhood. Zheng Yu said, “I had this feeling when I first met her. I knew she wasn’t sulking, she just didn’t have any expression. But without an expression, she looked like she was sulking!”

Before 2022, Zhang Shuxian had only occasionally played high-level mixed doubles matches and was completely unfamiliar with the women’s doubles scene. When they first went to Germany, they faced four top-10 ranked pairs, and the All England was full of tough battles. She had never competed against these players before, and some she hadn’t even seen in real life. She felt unsure and relied entirely on Zheng Yu’s analysis and explanations off the court.

“Not understanding, not knowing, having nothing to say. After playing, understanding, then I could speak.” This was Zhang Shuxian’s mindset at the time. But she didn’t communicate this to her partner, which led to a lot of one-sided conversation from Zheng Yu at the beginning. Zheng Yu often had to guess Zhang Shuxian’s thoughts and feelings. Whenever this happened, Zheng Yu would get anxious: “Are you listening? What do you think? If you think I’m not doing well, you need to tell me!”

Initially, their effective communication was minimal each day, but as they continued to experience highs and lows together, Zheng Yu gradually understood her partner’s temperament: “Shuxian isn’t an outgoing person. When something happens, she instinctively keeps it to herself. Slowly, through communication, I found that she wasn’t unresponsive because she wasn’t listening, but because she needed some quiet time to sort out her thoughts.”

By gradually understanding and adjusting her methods, Zheng Yu stopped asking immediate questions on the court and instead focused on motivating herself to influence her partner. This change in approach brought about mutual laughter off the court. Previously, she might have thought that Zhang Shuxian wasn’t shouting during matches because she wasn’t engaged enough, but now she understands that her partner needs to express passion in her own way.

Feeling the space her partner gave her, Zhang Shuxian slowly began to open up. She doesn’t know when it started, but she found herself becoming more talkative and willing to express herself on the court. If Zheng Yu was the one talking at the beginning of last year, by mid-year it was both of them, and by the end of the year, Zhang Shuxian was the one mainly speaking, with Zheng Yu nodding in approval—a sight she was pleased to see.

Now, Zheng Yu occasionally gets overwhelmed by the chatterbox Zhang Shuxian has become. Sometimes, Zheng Yu jokingly complains about her partner, leaving Zhang Shuxian looking aggrieved: “You wanted me to communicate, and now you think I communicate too much?”

Handling Anger: Never Going to Bed Angry

Although these two claim never to have conflicts and have a good relationship, small misunderstandings are inevitable with long-term companionship. An episode of “same-day travel” of emotions during the Bangkok Finals was an experience that deepened their mutual understanding.

The day before the match, they went to the venue to adapt to the court. Zhang Shuxian, who had clear ideas and could express her opinions, asked Zheng Yu to practice more inside-corner shots. After 20 minutes, Zheng Yu hadn’t delivered a single inside-corner shot, and a slightly anxious Zhang Shuxian mentioned it again: “If you don’t try it today, you’ll be even less likely to dare to do it when the match starts tomorrow.” Zheng Yu verbally agreed but still didn’t act for the next 20 minutes. This rare occurrence of Zhang Shuxian getting upset with her partner led to an afternoon without conversation.

That evening, during the video review session, Zhang Shuxian, full of grievances, couldn’t hold it in anymore, stomping her foot and shouting: “Sister! If I don’t say it, I’ll feel very uncomfortable! I was really angry today!” After venting a long account of her feelings, her anger dissipated. Zheng Yu’s attitude in admitting her mistake was good, and this incident not only didn’t affect the match but also made them understand each other’s emotional thresholds better. In fact, arguments and anger often start with small misunderstandings, and not letting emotions carry over to the next day might be a great way to reconcile.

Zhang Shuxian is the type who loves to bottle up her feelings, not competing with others but getting anxious with herself when she doesn’t play well, looping thoughts in her mind like, “How could I be so stupid?” This one-track mind can lead her deeper into frustration, like sinking into quicksand, needing someone to pull her out. During such times, Zheng Yu would use a lighthearted tone to tease her: “What’s wrong? Why are you angry again, Sister Xian?”

Zheng Yu explains that every time she calls Zhang Shuxian “Sister Xian,” Zhang Shuxian softens. “With her personality, someone needs to guide her. She likes to keep everything to herself, and it’s impossible for her to speak up first. I’ve realized that Shuxian depends on me, and my emotions also affect her state. So, it also requires me to adjust my own state and emotions first and not collapse on the court.”

Getting Along: Eating and Sleeping Well

If personality differences are internal, then their external differences are even more pronounced. During the Hailu Station competition, when they first shared a room, Zheng Yu was finally shocked by the much-rumored “Zhang’s Early Sleep.” When Zheng Yu returned to the room after treatment around nine or ten at night, she felt something was off. The whole room was dimly lit with only a bathroom light on, and Zhang Shuxian was already lying in bed, looking at her phone, almost asleep.

At that moment, “Night Owl Zheng” felt pressured, tiptoeing around for a few hours, fearing she would wake her partner. Zheng Yu doesn’t sleep much and prefers to sleep late, while Zhang Shuxian is renowned for her ability to sleep well and eat well, which is her characteristic.

Once in Bangkok, they were eating at Pizza Hut. After a round of pizza and pasta, Zheng Yu and Huang Dongping were done, but Zhang Shuxian unexpectedly said: “Sister, Dongping Jie, if you’re full, you can go back first. I don’t feel full yet and want to have another bowl of noodles.” Imagine the expressions of the two sisters! Zhang Shuxian, who eats a lot but doesn’t gain weight, is envied by many. Not only does she eat well, but she also supervises her partner. During competitions, she always shows up at Zheng Yu’s door at meal times, dragging her to eat.

During an interview for this cover story, Zheng Yu chose the meal time, planning to skip dinner. But before the interview ended, Zhang Shuxian had already brought a full dinner box from the cafeteria to the room. Warmed by the gesture! Last year, when Zhang Shuxian was still juggling multiple events, Zheng Yu often helped bring her meals.

Looking Ahead: Happy and Healthy to Fight Once

Now, Zheng Yu and Zhang Shuxian are no longer the unknown newcomers they once were, nor are they the unstudied temporary pair or a one-dimensional tactical team. What lies ahead of them is the enticing Paris Olympic qualification series. During the Tokyo Olympic cycle, Zheng Yu and Li Wenmei were consistently ranked third in the team, lacking a strong sense of involvement. Despite witnessing her roommate Jia Yifan’s emotional rollercoaster, Zheng Yu, as an outsider, could only barely empathize, finding it hard to fully understand.

“Seeing Fan Fan’s pressure and state while preparing for Tokyo gave me some mental preparation for the coming year’s Olympic qualification race. There will be many emotions, many obstacles, and I don’t know what will happen, but I want to make an effort to compete,” said Zheng Yu.

For Zhang Shuxian, everything is new and sudden, leaving little time for thorough reflection or savoring the moment. Having just moved from the training team to the main squad, she has played in high-level competitions for only a year, and now faces a challenging yet alluring journey ahead. Teaming up with her junior Liu Shengshu, Zhang has experienced her own growth over the past year and has come to appreciate Zheng Yu’s calming and stabilizing presence.

Over the past year, they have progressed from nothing to something, from zero to one, from unranked to world number three. They have faced difficulties, shed tears, and, most importantly, supported each other, opening up their hearts and inspiring each other with their passion. The coming year is crucial for them. Zheng Yu wants to tell Shuxian, “The process is more important than the result. I hope we can go through these two years happily and healthily and give it our best shot!”