Zheng Qinwen's Successful Return at the China Open

Zheng Qinwen, the world No. 9 tennis player from China, made a successful return to competitive tennis on September 30, 2025, at the China Open in Beijing. This marked her first match since undergoing surgery on her right elbow in July. Zheng faced Colombia's Emiliana Arango, ranked No. 50, and won decisively with a score of 6-3, 6-2 in a match that lasted 84 minutes. The victory allowed her to advance to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament.

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Prior to this match, Zheng had been sidelined for 88 days, with her last competitive appearance being a first-round loss to Czech player Katerina Siniakova at Wimbledon on July 1, 2025. The elbow injury had significantly affected her performance, limiting her serve and shot power. Zheng expressed her eagerness to return to the court, stating, “I’m really happy to come back and compete again. Of course, I miss all the fans who are cheering for me.”

China Open: Zheng Qinwen Makes A Winning Return After 88-Day Injury Absence

In her match against Arango, Zheng demonstrated impressive skill, winning 12 out of 14 points on her second serve and achieving a 66% success rate on her first serve. She converted five out of six break point opportunities, showcasing her aggressive playing style. Despite her success, Zheng acknowledged that she is still not at full fitness, estimating her recovery at about 70% to 80%. “My serve wasn’t really reaching the speed I want,” she noted, indicating that she aims to improve her performance as she continues to recover.

China Open: Zheng Qinwen Makes A Winning Return After 88-Day Injury Absence

Zheng's next challenge will be against Linda Noskova from the Czech Republic, who is ranked 27th. Zheng has a strong head-to-head record against Arango, now standing at 3-0. She commented on her upcoming match, saying, “It really depends on how much I can recover. I look forward to a better performance. We’ll see what happens.”

China Open: Zheng Qinwen Makes A Winning Return After 88-Day Injury Absence

Zheng expressed her gratitude for the support from her home crowd, emphasizing the importance of competing in front of them after her injury layoff. She also reflected on the emotional aspects of her return, stating, “The things I missed the most were to compete with other players because during those days, I could only see them on TV.”

China Open: Zheng Qinwen Makes A Winning Return After 88-Day Injury Absence

While Zheng's return has been celebrated, some analysts have noted that her performance may still be affected by her recent surgery. Concerns about her ability to regain full competitive form in time for the remainder of the tournament have been raised, particularly given the high stakes of the WTA 1000 event.

China Open: Zheng Qinwen Makes A Winning Return After 88-Day Injury Absence

• “I’m really happy to play in front of my home crowd, especially coming back from injury, two months without competition,” — Zheng Qinwen

South China Morning Post

• “That’s a good number because I was born on the 8th of October,” — Zheng Qinwen, on her 88-day absence

China Open: Zheng Qinwen Makes A Winning Return After 88-Day Injury Absence

• “But my serve wasn’t really reaching the speed I want.” — Zheng Qinwen

China Open: Zheng Qinwen Makes A Winning Return After 88-Day Injury Absence

Zheng Qinwen's return to the court at the China Open marks a significant moment in her career, as she seeks to regain her form and compete at the highest levels of tennis once again.

China Daily