Qinwen Zheng is back: "I never thought this injury would keep me out for so long"

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Qinwen Zheng is back. There is no better headline to illustrate a highly anticipated return by a large part of the tennis community, which witnessed her breakthrough into the elite with the force of a true whirlwind. She reached number four in the world, dashed Iga Swiatek's hopes in Paris to claim Olympic gold, made her first Grand Slam final appearance in Australia... and in the year following her rise, she experienced the harsher side of this sport: injuries.

Specifically, discomfort in her right elbowforced her to stop, attempt a comeback... and then stop again. After Wimbledon 2025, the pain became too intense: Qinwen would be forced to miss the US Open. She must have thought that returning home would be great, but her comeback in Beijing was thwarted once again by a lingering injury. Ultimately, Zheng had to call it quits for 2025 and later announced that she would not return to action at the Australian Open, dropping out of the top 20 and entering a new phase of her career.

After months of work and renewed hopes, the Chinese tennis player will once again feel like a tennis player this week when she steps onto the court for her first match of the year at the WTA Doha 2026. This is one of the most anticipated comebacks on the circuit: her elegant, versatile style of play captivated the audience alongside a personality that might be considered somewhat exotic but provided a beautiful and interesting contrast to the fierceness of the elite power hitters.

Qinwen Zheng Describes Her Enthusiasm for Returning to Tennis

Before her match against Sofia Kenin, Zheng expressed her feelings about preparing for a professional tournament. "Being back on the circuit makes me feel great. What I missed the most, above all, are the tournaments and competition. I missed having to leave blood, sweat, and tears on the court," says Qinwen, who had to watch from the sidelines for several months.

"It's been a while, yes. I never thought this injury would last this long and lead me to undergo surgery. It has been much longer than I expected. Fortunately, I am back now and in better shape than ever. I hope to perform as well as possible and give my best on the court." No matter what happens, this week is already a celebration for Zheng: she will return to a place with fond memories (she was a finalist in 2023) and feel once again the adrenaline of a competition she also missed. Once the engine revs up at full throttle... the circuit better get ready: one of its fiercest warriors has returned with great hunger.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Qinwen Zheng está de vuelta: "Jamás pensé que esta lesión me dejaría tanto tiempo fuera"