By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, July 21, 2025
Photo credit: Zheng Qinwen Instagram
Zheng Qinwen has withdrawn from the US Open.
The Olympic gold-medal champion is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow and will be sidelined as she heals from surgery.
Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean moves into the US Open main draw with Zheng’s departure.
Zheng reached the US Open quarterfinals last September losing to eventual-champion Aryna Sabalenka.
The Chinese power player’s Flushing Meadows quarterfinal result was part of a strong surge to end the season that saw Zheng reach three finals in her last five tournaments of 2024 as she lost to Sabalenka in the Wuhan final, defeated Sofia Kenin to win the Tokyo title and reached the final of the WTA Finals in Riyadh bowing to Coco Gauff.
“Over the past months, I’ve been dealing with persistent pain in my right elbow during training and matches. Despite trying various treatments to manage it, the discomfort never fully went away,” Zheng wrote in an Instagram post over the weekend. “After consulting with elbow specialists and discussing thoroughly with my team, we decided that arthroscopic surgery was the best option to fully resolve the issue.
“Yesterday, I underwent the procedure successfully, and I’m grateful to have it behind me.”
It is uncertain when the former Australian Open finalist can return though Zheng said she envisions “just a short break.”
“Now begins the recovery journey. Over the next few weeks and months, I’ll be focusing entirely on rehab—doing everything I can to come back stronger and healthier,” Zheng said. “This is just a short break, and I see it as a necessary step toward a better version of myself on court.”
The world No. 6 reached the quarterfinals or better in six of her last eight tournaments.
A Rome semifinalist, Zheng reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals and Queen’s Club semifinals bowing to Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova before she suffered a first-round loss to Katerina Siniakova at Wimbledon.
