Zheng Qinwen withdraws from China Open: 'In recovery after surgery, won't take risks.'
On September 29, during the third round of the 2025 China Open women's singles, Chinese player Zheng Qinwen retired due to injury while trailing 4-6, 6-3, 0-3 against 26th seed Noskova, unfortunately ending her run in the round of 16.
September 29, Zheng Qinwen waves to the audience as she leaves the court. Xinhua News Agency photographer Na Yuqi
After the match, Zheng Qinwen discussed her decision to retire, the condition of her elbow, and her future plans in a press conference:
- “Assessing my physical condition through two matches”
Zheng Qinwen: “Now I have a clear understanding of my body, including the point at which my elbow starts to feel a bit of pain. Because even before the match, I anticipated that it wouldn't be completely pain-free, as I've emphasized before. Actually, there were things I could have done better today, but maybe I had too many thoughts running through my mind, always thinking about whether to continue.”
- “I need to discuss the next steps with my team.”
Zheng Qinwen: “I feel very sorry that I couldn't finish the match today, because I've always emphasized fighting until the very end. But since this is my first surgery, I don't want anything more serious to happen, so I made a more conservative choice in this regard. I'm not sure about my next steps yet, because I need to go back and check the exact situation. After playing two matches, one of which went nearly three sets, it's a new stress on my body, so I need to discuss it thoroughly with my team.”
- “The pressure on my elbow mainly comes from serving”
Zheng Qinwen: “Actually, it doesn't have much to do with my opponent. It's mainly about how much force I use when serving, and after many repetitions, it inevitably causes a bit of pain. I knew before the match why I was playing—it was to see how my elbow has recovered. Now I know that when I serve with a certain amount of force, because it hasn't fully healed, this situation occurs. I don't think my opponent's shots put pressure on me, because my pain mainly comes from serving. But even so, I felt my serve was quite good today. I think it was just a bit of a mental issue—I kept thinking about whether to continue. During the second set, I actually signaled to my team many times.”
- “In the recovery phase after surgery, I won't take risky choices.”
Zheng Qinwen: “This time, I wanted to test how my elbow has recovered. I said before the match that I wasn't at 100%, and there was some pain, but it had to be within a controllable range. As soon as I felt the pain might be worsening—and this is my first recovery after surgery—I won't take a risky choice. Instead, I'm thinking about my longer career.”
- “I will focus on recovery next.”
Zheng Qinwen: “The reason I decided to play at the China Open is that many people like me, so I decided to come. It might have been a hasty decision, but I'm still very happy to face everyone at Diamond Court. It's a pity that my body can't bear so much pressure anymore, so I'm very sorry to retire due to injury. Next, I will focus on recovery.”
September 29, Zheng Qinwen at the press conference
After Zheng Qinwen's withdrawal, her subsequent schedule has become a hot topic among fans. On the evening of the 29th, the official social media of the Wuhan Open immediately posted: “Zheng Qinwen, keep fighting! At the 2024 Wuhan Open, she ignited the court with countless brilliant moments. We look forward to her healthy return!”
｜Images and sources: China Open, Xinhua News Agency