Zheng Qinwen Withdraws from US Open Following Elbow Surgery

NEW YORK: Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen has officially pulled out of the upcoming US Open to focus on her recovery after undergoing right elbow surgery, as announced by tournament officials on Monday.

The world’s sixth-ranked player shared on social media last week that she had been experiencing ongoing discomfort in her right elbow, which had been negatively affecting her performance.

Despite trying several treatment options with limited success, she ultimately decided to proceed with arthroscopic surgery based on her doctor’s recommendations.

The 22-year-old Chinese tennis star has declared a brief break from competition to concentrate on rehabilitation and regain her optimal fitness level.

“This marks the start of my journey to recovery. In the coming weeks and months, I will be fully dedicated to rehab, doing everything possible to return stronger and healthier,” Zheng posted on Instagram.

Zheng emphasized that this break is temporary and part of her strategy to come back even stronger.

“This is just a short pause, and I view it as a necessary step towards becoming a better version of myself on the court,” she added.

Zheng has experienced a rapid ascent in her tennis career. In 2024, she secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics and reached the final at the Australian Open. Furthermore, she clinched her fifth WTA title in October at the Pan Pacific Open in Japan.

However, her progress was hindered after an early exit in the first round at Wimbledon earlier this year, where she was defeated by Czech player Katerina Siniakova.

Following Zheng’s withdrawal from the US Open, French player Leolia Jeanjean will now be included in the main draw for the final Grand Slam of the season.