Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen, the No. 7 seed at the China Open, retired from her third-round match against Czech Republic's Linda Noskova on Monday due to injury, marking a disappointing end to local participation in the tournament's singles events.
Zheng struggled early, losing the first set 6-4 but rallied to claim the second set 6-3. However, trailing 3-0 in the deciding set, the 22-year-old opted to withdraw, citing concerns about her physical recovery following elbow surgery in July. This was her first tournament since returning to competition.
"I wanted to fight until the end, but after my first surgery, I have to be cautious," Zheng said post-match. "We'll assess how my body handles multi-set matches and decide next steps with my team."
Zheng's exit leaves no Chinese players remaining in singles at the Beijing event, a blow to fans hoping for home success. Noskova advances to face Russia's Anastasia Potapova in the next round.
The setback highlights challenges athletes face in balancing recovery with competitive demands, particularly in high-stakes tournaments. Zheng's cautious approach reflects growing awareness of long-term career sustainability in professional sports.
