2024 finalist Qinwen Zheng withdraws from 2026 Australian Open
NewsThursday, 08 January 2026 at 15:00
The 2026 Australian Open will be held without one of the former finalists after Qinwen Zheng withdrew from the tournament.
Zheng achieved one of the biggest results of her tennis career at the 2024 Australian Open. She reached the final at the first Grand Slam of the season in 2024, a result that she topped only by winning the Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
The Chinese player followed up on her great 2024 season, also at the start of 2025, reaching the quarter-finals in Indian Wells, Miami, and the French Open, while also making the Italian Open semi-finals.
However, in the closing stages of the season, she started feeling pain in her right elbow. Zheng made the decision to undergo surgery, which forced her to withdraw from the US Open. She then wanted to make a comeback during the Asian swing, but was forced to retire from her second match at the China Open.
That was the last time fans had a chance to see Zheng on the tennis courts, and that won't change at the upcoming Australian Open. As a former finalist, Zheng was looking forward to this year's "Happy Slam" in Melbourne, but about a week before the start of the main draw, she announced her withdrawal.
Zheng informed her fans on social media that, despite her progress in recovery, she won't be able to compete at the Australian Open.
"Hi everyone, after careful evaluation by my team and following medical advice, unfortunately, I will be withdrawing from the 2026 Australian Open. Making this decision has been incredibly difficult for me. Melbourne is my "lucky place," where I won my first Grand Slam main draw match and where I had my best experience. I have a special connection to this place, and I was very eager to start my new season at the Melbourne Park."
"Although my recovery is progressing well and my offseason has gone smoothly, to play a Grand Slam requires players to maintain an extreme competitive condition. Currently, I have not yet reached my best condition that I have set for myself. I can't thank everyone enough for their continued support and am very much looking forward to being 100% back on the court and having a strong 2026 season return."
Zheng will hope to put this period of injury struggles behind her and return in time for the clay-court part of the season. Despite having a game that suits hard courts, and having an exceptional record on the hard courts as well, the Chinese player has paradoxically recorded the most significant achievements in her tennis career on the clay courts.
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