WUHAN, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's tennis ace Zheng Qinwen has withdrawn from the remainder of the 2026 season to recover and begin winter training for 2027, her team said Monday.
Zheng, the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist, underwent surgery on her right elbow after Wimbledon in 2025. She returned this season and gradually rediscovered her form, coming through qualifying at the US Open to reach the quarterfinals.
Playing on a wild card in Beijing in early October, she won seven matches to claim the China Open title, becoming the first home women's singles champion in the tournament's 20-year history.
After the China Open, Zheng withdrew from her hometown tournament in central China's Wuhan due to a right shoulder injury. She then pulled out of the Japan Women's Open in Osaka, the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and the Hong Kong Tennis Open.
When she withdrew from Wuhan earlier this month, the WTA published an article in which Zheng said the workload since her return had taken its toll.
"Since returning from injury, I have played a demanding stretch of tennis over the past month and a half, competing at the US Open, the Billie Jean King Cup and the China Open," Zheng said. "My body is feeling very fatigued after this intense run of matches."
The 24-year-old will spend the coming months recovering and preparing for the 2027 season, according to her team. ■
