After undergoing elbow surgery, Zheng Qinwen spent nearly three months away from the tennis circuit. But rather than viewing it as downtime, she embraced the opportunity for personal growth.
“I learned Spanish. I read books. I took classes. It was a really good life,” said Zheng following her 6-3, 6-2 victory over Emiliana Arango at the China Open.
Her time off the court was filled with learning and reflection, allowing her to recharge mentally while preparing for a return to competition.
A surprise appearance at the China Open
Zheng’s participation in the WTA 1000 event in Beijing wasn’t originally part of her recovery plan. She admitted that her team had advised against competing so soon, but her desire to play in front of a home crowd proved stronger.
“Playing here wasn’t in the plan,” she revealed. “In every training session, I see those fans and I said, ‘I really want to play in front of these people.’”
Her decision to return early was driven by emotion and connection, not just physical readiness.
Fans make the comeback special
The support Zheng received from her fans added a layer of joy to her return.
“On court today, people were very passionate,” she said. “I received encouraging words. I got Labubu toys. I got two key chains in my bag. These are from my fans. I know my fans missed me in the past two months.”
Their presence and gifts reminded her of the bond she shares with the Chinese tennis community, making her comeback feel like a celebration.
Looking ahead
With her first win post-surgery secured, Zheng Qinwen now looks to build momentum. Her time away may have kept her off the court, but it clearly didn’t dull her competitive edge—or her connection to the fans who continue to cheer her on.
WTA Beijing - Qinwen Zheng's projected path
Zheng in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2025
Ranked no.9, Qinwen has achieved an overall 20-11 match record in 2025. The Chinese is now having a run in Beijing where she beat the world no.50 Emiliana Arango 6-3 6-2
.Qinwen Zheng will face the world no.27 Linda Noskova in the 3rd round on Monday at 7:00 pm on CAPITAL GROUP DIAMOND. Their actual head to head record is 2-0 for Zheng.
Qinwen won 5 titles in her career: 2 on hard courts and 3 on clay courts. (See the list of her titles)
WTA Beijing - Qinwen Zheng's projected path
Zheng in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2025
Ranked no.9, the Chinese has achieved a compiled 20-11 record in 2025. Zheng is competing in Beijing where she ousted the world no.50 Emiliana Arango 6-3 6-2.
Qinwen Zheng will fight against the world no.27 Linda Noskova in the 3rd round on Monday at 7:00 pm on CAPITAL GROUP DIAMOND. Their actual record is 2-0 for Zheng.
The Chinese won 5 titles in her career: 2 on hard courts and 3 on clay courts. (See the list of her titles)
Qinwen Zheng and Qinwen Zheng have never clashed against each other.