Qinwen Zheng’s China Open campaign has come to an end after being forced to retire due to a right elbow injury.
Zheng underwent surgery for her elbow after Wimbledon, which saw her sidelined for the entirety of the North American hard-court swing.
The Chinese star made her return to action in Beijing with a triumphant first match back against Emiliana Arango.
After playing two sets against Linda Noskova in round three, however, Zheng called a halt to the contest and later admitted she ‘rushed back’ after her surgery.
Qinwen Zheng reacts to Iga Swiatek’s criticism of WTA scheduling
“I decided when the pain’s going higher, I should stop,” said the world number nine in her post-match press conference when explaining her decision to retire.
“I’ve kept thinking on in the second set, I [should] keep pushing, pushing, until I say, like, Okay, that’s it.”
Zheng is the latest addition to the flurry of retirements at the China Open, with the likes of Lorenzo Musetti, Lois Boisson and Camila Osorio all pulling out of the event due to injury.
Iga Swiatek, who advanced via a walkover against Osorio, says the withdrawals in Beijing are due to the ‘crazy’ scheduling, stating that she might start skipping mandatory tournaments if the WTA don’t make changes to the rules.
Reacting to Swiatek’s comments, Zheng said: “I mean, this is part of the game. As a professional player, this is what it is. We have to play a lot of tournaments because that’s what’s on the calendar.
“I think my situation is different from theirs. I’m coming back from surgery, and it was a bit of a rushed decision for me to play here.
“But it was also the right decision, because I wanted to see where my body is right now. Now I know that playing a third set and hitting that many balls is still too much for me.
“I don’t think the calendar is too much for professional players. The strongest players survive, and that’s the rule in my head.”
Qinwen Zheng says she ‘has to be smart’ with her recovery
When asked how long she thinks she may be out for, Zheng replied: “It’s a tough question.
“I need to double-check with the MRI to see how is going after two matches, there is one three-set matches, how it’s going inside with my elbow.
“I think it’s still quite positive to keep playing tennis because that’s how you break the barrier. At the same time I [have] got to be smart.
“I know already in the second set I couldn’t push more. So right now I see, okay, maybe I can play first set, but to arrive to third set is too much for my elbow. I believe with time is going to be better.”
Zheng was the last home hope remaining in the women’s singles draw at the China Open.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
