News | Zheng Qinwen officially announces withdrawal from the 2026 Australian Open, return date uncertain!

On January 8th Beijing time, Chinese player Zheng Qinwen declared her withdrawal from the 2026 Australian Open. In a statement posted on her personal social media, she expressed her desire to make a comeback in Melbourne but admitted that after recently resuming training, she does not yet feel at 100% fitness required for a Grand Slam event. She emphasized that competing at her best is a sign of respect for the tournament, her opponents, and the fans, and she looks forward to returning to the court in good health in the future, though she did not specify a comeback date.

Zheng Qinwen’s original statement (Image source: player’s social media)

Currently ranked 24th in the world, Zheng Qinwen was expected to appear at this year’s Australian Open as a seeded player, marking her first official tournament appearance since last year’s China Open. Although she did not participate in any Australian Open warm-up events, she had previously confirmed her involvement in the Australian Open qualifying week, an exhibition match against Leylah Fernandez, and the “One Point to Win Grand Slam” event, which was seen as a clear indication of her intention to make a comeback in Melbourne. However, for athletes, maintaining health is always the top priority. We wish Zheng Qinwen a speedy recovery and look forward to her healthy return to the court to continue her impressive journey.

(Article and editing by Wang Fei, cover photo by Li Jianyi)