Olympic gold medalist
Zheng, who entered the China Open as a wild-card entry ranked 54th, experienced a significant resurgence in form during the tournament. Her victory in Beijing marks a major turnaround for the player, whose ranking had previously dipped to 160 this season following a challenging period hampered by an elbow injury. With this recent success, the WTA has confirmed that she is set to return to the top 30 rankings.
Managing a demanding schedule
In an official statement released by the WTA, Zheng explained that the physical toll of a packed calendar necessitated her withdrawal from the 1,000-level event in Wuhan. The 21-year-old highlighted a demanding stretch of competition over the last six weeks, which included appearances at the U.S. Open, the Billie Jean King Cup, and her title-winning run in Beijing.
Reflecting on her recent performance, Zheng noted the difficulty of the past year, which saw her ranking fall from a career-high of No. 4 last season. Despite the physical setback, she expressed optimism about her future participation, stating that she looks forward to returning to the Wuhan Open next year in peak condition.
Changes to the Wuhan Open draw
Zheng is not the only high-profile player to exit the tournament field.
Following the withdrawals, tournament organizers have confirmed that both players will be replaced by lucky losers from the qualifying rounds. Anna Bondar has been named as the replacement for Andreeva, while Camila Osorio will take Zheng’s place in the main draw, which officially commenced on Monday.
