Injury Retirements derail day at China Open as Sinner, Swiatek Advance

Home star Zheng Qinwen’s comeback ended in disappointment at the China Open in Beijing, where she was one of five players to retire during matches on Monday, while Jannik Sinner advanced to the semifinals without any issues.

Zheng’s first competition since Wimbledon ended early in the third set against the Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova, who had a 3-0 lead in the final set. China’s Olympic champion Zheng suggested afterwards that her return following recent elbow surgery had come too quickly.

The busy match schedule in tennis has been a significant topic of discussion in recent years, with players like Novak Djokovic significantly reducing the number of tournaments they enter as they approach the latter stages of their careers.

Since last year, the Women’s Tennis Association has made it mandatory for top players to participate in all four Grand Slam events, ten WTA 1000 competitions (including the Beijing event) and other 500-level tournaments.

Highlighting this issue, Swiatek will next compete against Emma Navarro after Navarro’s opponent, Lois Boisson, was unable to complete her match.

Injuries also affected the men’s quarterfinals, as Jakub Mensik and Lorenzo Musetti both retired from their respective matches. American teenager Learner Tien reached the semifinals after Italy’s Musetti retired due to leg pain in the deciding third set. Tien will compete against either eighth-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia or second-seeded Alexander Zverev from Germany.

Meanwhile, Italian Jannik Sinner defeated Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-1 7-5 in just one hour and 19 minutes, setting up a semifinal match with third seed Alex de Minaur.