'I want to see where my body is right now': Zheng Qinwen sends signals after retirement, with top-10 in jeopardy

Zheng Qinwen retired from the China Open during her third-round match against Linda Noskova. This was the return tournament for the 2024 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, who was facing nearly three months off the court since her first-round loss at Wimbledon against Katerina Siniakova. The former world No. 5 lost a important amount of points during her last off-court months, due to surgery.

Shortly after her early exit at SW19, the World No. 9 decided to take a break from her career to treat her right elbow with surgery, a problem that had been causing her discomfort throughout 2025. The Chinese No. 1 missed the North American swing, including the US Open, and lost her spot inside the Top-5.

Zheng returned last Saturday with a victory over Emiliana Arango (6-3, 6-2), after which she admitted that she still didn't feel physically at 100%. It was demonstrated that she still needs time to return to her top level and results. The 22-year-old player has a significant defense of points in the final weeks in Asia, following a 2024 season where she reached the semifinals in Beijing, was a runner-up in Wuhan, and competed in the WTA Finals.

This time, she faced the Czech 26th seed, Linda Noskova, against whom she had two previous wins—both on clay courts. Noskova claimed the victory after Zheng's retirement, with the score favoring the young Czech 6-4, 3-6, 3-0.

Injury forces retirement, Top-10 Ranking now at risk

The decision to withdraw was based on managing her pain. "I start to feel a bit more, which is normal," she explained after the match. "I already expect that. So I decided when the pain's going higher, [so I] don't damage the area, I should stop. I've been keep thinking on in the second set, so I keep pushing, pushing, until I say, like, OK, that's it."

For now, she acknowledged that she is waiting for the MRI results to determine if she will be fit to play in the Wuhan Open next week—the last WTA 1000 of the year. "[It was] really rush decision for me to playing here," she said. "But also is the right decision for me because I want to see where my body is right now."

"I remember last year in Olympic Games I was going full. I say if I have to break something, I going to break my body right now," she added. "But today is more like I want to save my body. I have lot of doubt in me. I think that's why I cannot show up my full level still."

It is already ruled out that the Chinese player can qualify for the WTA Finals this season, sitting currently at No. 22 in the Race with 1,728 points and more than 2,000 points behind the eighth qualifier, Elena Rybakina (3,806). Zheng has a busy calendar ahead, with appearances in Wuhan next week, then the WTA 250 Ningbo Open, and finally the WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open.

For now, Zheng will drop one spot in the ranking to No. 10, and if she fails to reach at least the semifinals in Wuhan, her exit from the Top-10 will be inevitable for the first time since January 2024.