Zheng Qinwen has made a scheduling change for the start of the 2025 season as the Chinese tennis star won’t play at the United Cup leading up to the Australian Open.
After making her debut at the event last season, the world No. 5 agreed to represent her nation in Australia once again.
But after having a very long and successful 2024 season – which she finished by falling just short in the WTA Finals final – the Paris Olympics gold medalist indicated she still wasn’t rested enough or ready for 2025.
“Hi everyone, just a quick update that I’m sadly not going to be competing at the United Cup next week. After the long season that 2024 was for me, I need a few extra weeks of rest, recovery, and good training to get ready for the new season,” Zheng wrote on her Instagram Story.
“I had such a fantastic time at the United Cup in January of this year, and therefore will miss the event greatly. Still, I am so excited to be back in Australia soon and I will see you all in Melbourne in a couple of weeks.”
Zheng Qinwen announcement© Zheng Qinwen/Instagram – Fair Use
She will be replaced by world No. 175 Gao Xinyu.
Zheng led China to the United Cup quarterfinal
In her opening tournament of 2024, the Chinese started off by clinching back-to-back singles wins over Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova and Serbian Olga Danilovic.
In mixed doubles, she wasn’t as successful after she and Zhang Zhizhen lost to Vondrousova and Jiri Lehecka before also falling short to Danilovic and Novak Djokovic.
However, it was still enough for China to reach the United Cup quarterfinal. There, Zheng suffered her first singles defeat to Iga Swiatek and her nation ended up exiting the event.
A few weeks later, the world No. 5 went on to make her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open.
Despite the United Cup withdrawal, Zheng will certainly aim a deep run once again when the opening Slam kicks off on January 12th.
Tennis World USA