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.