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What Qinwen Zheng’s Beijing Triumph Means for Her Comeback

Qinwen Zheng’s victory at the China Open in Beijing marks a pivotal moment in her remarkable comeback from a career-threatening injury slump. Just two years after winning Olympic gold in Paris and reaching a career-high ranking of world No.

4, Zheng faced a brutal setback in 2025, with persistent elbow issues forcing surgery and months away from competition. Her ranking plummeted to No.

121 by early 2026, a stark contrast to her previous dominance, as she struggled to regain consistency after returning from a lengthy hiatus. The defeat of Mirra Andreeva in the final—her first WTA 1000 title—proved Zheng’s resilience, showcasing her ability to reclaim her aggressive serve-and-volley style despite the setbacks.

Her journey from qualifying at the US Open to reaching the quarterfinals, where she lost to eventual champion Elena Rybakina, highlighted her gradual resurgence on the court, even as she battled inconsistency during her return to form.

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