Tennis player Zheng Qinwen provides insight on her ongoing healing process post elbow surgery
China's Olympic Champion Tennis Player, Zheng Qinwen, Undergoes Elbow Surgery and Begins Rehabilitation
Zheng Qinwen, the world No. 7 tennis player and China's No. 1, underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow in July 2025. The surgery was necessitated by persistent pain in her elbow, which had forced her to withdraw from the 2025 US Open and other recent tournaments [2][4][5].
Following the surgery, Zheng announced on social media that she would be focusing entirely on rehabilitation over the coming weeks and months, aiming to come back stronger and healthier, though she did not specify an exact return date [2][4]. As of early August 2025, Zheng remains in recovery and has not yet returned to competitive play.
Before the surgery, Zheng had been visibly struggling with the injury, wearing a compression sleeve in matches since January 2025. However, despite her injury, she managed to reach some highlights, including a semifinal run at the Italian Open and Queen’s Club [2][3]. Her rankings have remained high despite inactivity, reaching a career-best world No. 4 in June 2025 [1].
Zheng's recovery journey has been documented in a series of rehabilitation videos she has shared on social media. These videos show her engaging in various exercises, including hospital bed exercises with a tennis racquet, stretching in hospital corridors, and weightlifting in the gym [1].
It is worth noting that Zheng's elimination from Wimbledon in the first round was for a third straight year [2]. Despite this, her rise to world No. 4 occurred after her impressive performance at the Queen's Club Championships [3].
As Zheng continues her rehabilitation, tennis fans eagerly await her return to the court. Her determination and resilience in the face of injury make her a strong contender for a successful comeback.
References:
[1] Zheng Qinwen Shares Recovery Vlog, Offers First Glimpse of Road to Recovery Following Elbow Surgery. (2025, August 3). Retrieved from https://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/zhang-qinwen-shares-recovery-vlog-offers-first-glimpse-of-road-to-recovery-following-elbow-surgery
[2] Zheng Qinwen Undergoes Elbow Surgery, Expected to Miss US Open. (2025, July 20). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/61774087
[3] Zheng Qinwen's Rise to World No. 4 After Semifinal Run at Queen's Club Championships. (2025, June 25). Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/34373224/zhang-qinwen-world-no-4-after-semifinal-run-queens-club-championships
[4] Zheng Qinwen Announces Elbow Surgery, Out for "Next Few Weeks and Months". (2025, July 25). Retrieved from https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-zhang-qinwen-announces-elbow-surgery-out-next-few-weeks-months
[5] Zheng Qinwen Eliminated in First Round of Wimbledon for Third Straight Year. (2025, June 28). Retrieved from https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-zhang-qinwen-eliminated-first-round-wimbledon-third-straight-year
Zheng Qinwen, China's Olympic Champion, is focusing on rehabilitation after undergoing elbow surgery, which might keep her away from competitive tennis for several weeks and months [1][2]. Despite this setback, she aims to make a strong comeback in sports, especially in tennis tournaments [1].
