“It’s been a while”: Zheng Qinwen set for long-awaited Doha return against former Grand Slam champion

It is time for the return of one of the tour’s big names: Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen is preparing for her long-awaited return to competition at the WTA 1000 Qatar Open, where she will play her first tournament since October 2025 – and only her second since last June.

She has spent eight months away from the courts, and Zheng’s return has taken longer than expected. Following her first-round defeat at Wimbledon against Katerina Siniakova, the former world No. 4 revealed that she had been dealing with right elbow problems for several months, which led her to decide on arthroscopic surgery – with the aim of resolving the issue in the best possible way over the long term.

The 23-year-old had hoped to return a few months later at the US Open, but that comeback was postponed until the Asian swing in October. It was there that she played the China Open, but she completed just one match, and in the second round she was forced to retire mid-match against Linda Noskova due to physical discomfort. Zheng chose to be cautious – and although she was initially confirmed for the Australian Open this year, she also decided to withdraw from the season’s first major and take a few extra weeks of rest.

“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,” Zheng explained a few weeks ago when announcing her withdrawal from the Happy Slam. “Currently, I have not yet reached my best condition that I have set for myself.”

The date of Zheng’s return has arrived, and she will be back on court this Monday against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. “I feel great to be back on the tour,” Zheng told Tennis Channel upon her arrival in Doha. “I especially missed the tournaments and the competition. I missed the way you have to put your blood into a match.”

Zheng is currently ranked world No. 27, and her time away from the courts has not cost her too dearly – at least in ranking terms. However, the coming weeks will be loaded with points to defend, especially during the March Sunshine Double and later on the clay swing.

The Chinese player will look to use Qatar to regain match rhythm and collect wins that can take her back to the level she occupied prior to the injury, inside the top 10. “It’s been a while,” Zheng said. “I never thought this injury would take me so long and a surgery. It was much longer than I thought. But I’m back and in better shape. I just hope I can do well at this tournament and give my best on court.”

Her debut will take place on Centre Court against world No. 28 Kenin, whom she has faced only once before, back at the Tokyo Open 2024, with a win for the Olympic champion by 7-6(5), 6-3. This time, Kenin arrives in uncertain form, carrying four consecutive defeats this season (record 1–4). The winner will go on to face qualifier Alycia Parks, who is coming off a debut victory over Diana Shnaider.