Pain Forces Early Exit in Beijing
China’s top-ranked star Zheng Qinwen saw her return to the WTA Tour cut short on Monday, retiring midway through her China Open third-round clash with Czech No. 26 seed Linda Noskova.
The reigning Olympic champion, playing her first event since undergoing right elbow surgery in July, battled through two sets before the discomfort became too much. Noskova led 6-4, 4-6, 3-0 when Zheng walked to the net and ended the contest.
Admitting Her Body Isn’t Ready
Zheng, who had earlier admitted she was competing at “70–80%” of her usual level, explained the decision was about avoiding further damage.
“I started to feel more pain, which I expected,” she told reporters after the match. “When it got worse, I decided not to risk it. In the second set, I kept pushing until I said, ‘OK, that’s it.’”
She will undergo an MRI to assess the injury before deciding on her schedule for the rest of the season.
A Rush Return with Caution in Mind
The 21-year-old acknowledged that returning for Beijing may have been a rushed call but said it was a necessary step to test her recovery.
“It was a really quick decision to play here,” Zheng admitted. “But it was the right one because I wanted to see where my body is right now.”
Reflecting on her mindset compared to a year ago, Zheng noted a change in priorities. “At the Olympics last year, I told myself if I had to break something, I’d break my body then. But now it’s different—I want to save my body.”
The Chinese star has struggled to find her best rhythm since surgery, contrasting with her stellar 2023 campaign when she won her hometown WTA 1000 title in Wuhan and finished runner-up to Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals.
Growing Concern at the China Open
Zheng was one of five players forced to retire in the third round of the China Open, joining Paula Badosa, Lois Boisson, Barbora Krejcikova, and Camila Osorio. The string of retirements highlighted the physical toll of the demanding WTA schedule.
Despite the setback, Zheng’s presence in Beijing drew strong home support, underscoring her growing stature as the face of Chinese tennis. For now, her priority is recovery, with fans hoping she can return fully fit ahead of the season’s closing stretch.