Zheng Qinwen Triumphs in Beijing Comeback Following Elbow Surgery

China Open: Zheng Qinwen Triumphs at Home After Elbow Surgery

Impressive Return on Home Turf

Zheng Qinwen made a triumphant comeback at the China Open to the delight of her home crowd, marking her return to the WTA Tour after being sidelined for over two months due to elbow surgery. The World No. 9 outplayed Colombia’s Emiliana Arango, a lucky loser, with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory on Saturday, securing her spot in the third round in Beijing. This victory was Zheng’s first since June.

First Victory Since Queen’s Club Semi-Finals

The win signifies Zheng’s first successful outing since reaching the semifinals at Queen’s Club in June. Her attempts to compete afterward included a brief stint at Wimbledon, where she exited in the first round. Struggling with a persistent right elbow injury throughout much of 2025, Zheng opted for surgery. Despite not being at her peak, she chose to compete in Beijing given its significance.

“Actually, China Open wasn’t in our plan because, like I said on court, I wasn’t at my 100% still,” Zheng explained during a post-match press conference. “I am around 80%, 70%, but I’m able to compete. The recovery process is lengthy, and although the initial healing was fast, the last 20% proved challenging. I consulted with my team, and they assured me there was no risk in playing. I love playing in China, so I decided to see how it would go. So far, it’s been positive.”

Continued Dominance Over Arango

Zheng’s victory over Arango in Beijing marks their third encounter, with the 22-year-old maintaining an undefeated record against the Colombian. Notably, she has yet to drop a set against Arango, with previous encounters including a straight-sets win in the second round of this year’s French Open.

Outstanding Home Record

Zheng’s performance in Beijing also underscores her formidable record on home soil. With a 9-3 career record at WTA 1000 events in China, she boasts a win rate of 75%, the highest among Chinese players since the format’s inception in 2009. Across all WTA Tour events in China, Zheng has won 17 out of 21 matches (81%), making her third in the overall win rate since 2000, following Coco Gauff (87.5%) and Aryna Sabalenka (83%). Since the tour’s return to China in 2023, Zheng has secured the most match wins on home ground with 17 victories.

Looking Ahead to Noskova

Next, Zheng will face Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova, the No. 26 seed, in the third round. Zheng holds a perfect record against Noskova, having emerged victorious in their prior meetings, including a gripping three-set match in the third round at Rome in 2024.

“She is a tough player, very quick. I need to strategize with my team, as she will be a formidable opponent,” Zheng commented post-victory. “My performance will depend on my recovery. Looking forward to more fan support as I strive to deliver my best.”