Zheng Qinwen knows what it feels like to be at the top of the tennis world.
Now, after an elbow injury interrupted her meteoric rise, China's 2024 Olympic gold medalist, Australian Open finalist and former World No. 4 is trying to find her way back there — with a home crowd watching in Beijing.
“It's like I want so much to achieve a best result here in China,” Zheng said during her pre-event media conference. “I am not able to do that (for two years). It's like I'm close, but still I'm not there yet. So, let's see what I can do this year. No pressure. Just keep fighting and let's see what the result shows at the end.”
At last year’s China Open, Zheng retired in the third set of her third-round match, still working her way back following the 2024 injury. At this year’s edition, she is playing perhaps her best tennis since bursting onto the global stage.
Zheng stunned former No. 1 Iga Swiatek en route to the quarterfinals of the recent U.S. Open. That outstanding run which started in the qualifying competition allowed her to move her ranking, which had slipped well past 100 because of the injury, up to near the Top 50.
“I know where I’m capable to be,” said the 23-year-old. “I believe I can reach higher. I really want to see what I can bring to the future. I know deep inside me (I can), but I have to prove it.”
In July 2025, Zheng underwent right elbow surgery after experiencing pain before the 2024 Olympics.
“Because of a lack of understanding of the recovery, not enough visits to the doctors or receiving advice from different doctors, I was making some wrong choices in this period,” said Zheng.
Since the surgery, Zheng has been working her way through continuous rehab sessions. It all takes time, and that cliché of “patience is a virtue” has to be abided by.
This year, the popular Chinese star has had to endure a few early exits at tournaments, including at the Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Before the US Open, she had lost three consecutive matches.
But then came the US Open and her wonderful performance there proved you can’t keep a champion down. Qinwen had turned the corner, and her tennis was on the upswing.
It was her first quarterfinal at one of the four majors since the Roland Garros in 2025. She defeated 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys before the Swiatek result. In the quarterfinals, eventual champion and World No. 1 Elena Rybakina ended her run in three sets.
Zheng is back in familiar territory on home soil now with the China Open here in Beijing. But still she knows, with her experience, nothing is presented on a silver platter and there will be challenges, but she’s prepared for them.
“They expect I do better in China,” she said. “I don’t want to put extra pressure, but somehow its always there when I play in the Chinese season.”
By Dominic Achille
Weibo@ChinaOpen
WeChat Channel
Douyin@ChinaOpen
