Zheng Qinwen's comeback schedule includes the Billie Jean King Cup and China Open, with fans revealing that experts have approved her return.

It’s finally here, the long-awaited news of China’s top female player Zheng Qinwen’s comeback! Just yesterday, her team revealed her Asian season itinerary, which includes the Billie Jean King Cup, China Open, and Wuhan Open.

Zheng Qinwen has long been troubled by an elbow injury, leading to fluctuating form during the season’s first half. After losing in the first round at Wimbledon, she opted for surgery on her right elbow to treat the ongoing pain she had endured for months. Since her operation on July 18, updates on her elbow recovery have been frequent, but no definite comeback date was given until now.

However, just yesterday, according to Swiss Basel tennis coach Kaiborg’s social media post, Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen has been thoroughly evaluated by top Swiss sports medicine experts and officially cleared to return to the WTA Tour, with an intensive Asian season starting in September.

Notably, a fan recently spotted Zheng Qinwen playing tennis at a Barcelona tennis academy, where she warmly greeted supporters. The video showed she had removed her elbow brace and switched to a new racket model, confirming that her comeback is not a rumor but that she is physically ready to compete again.

Previously, reports indicated that Zheng had been actively undergoing rehabilitation abroad under the guidance of Dr. Frank Denzier, one of the world’s leading elbow injury specialists. Her recovery plan is progressing smoothly with positive results, which is great news.

Many had speculated that Zheng Qinwen might miss the rest of the season due to injury. However, a medical report revealed by CCTV showed her team used a specialized athlete recovery method combining “hyperbaric oxygen therapy and cold laser treatment,” drastically shortening the usual 3-6 month recovery period to just 28 days. This high-tech approach amazed many netizens.

According to her team’s updates, by day 10 post-surgery, Zheng had started lower body strength training; by day 21, she was hitting baseline shots holding the racket with her left hand; and by day 35, surveillance footage showed her completing 32 consecutive pull-ups with her right elbow bearing weight within acceptable limits.

Based on Zheng Qinwen’s team’s announced tournament plan, her comeback journey will include:

September 16: Billie Jean King Cup Final (Shenzhen, China)

September 24: China Open WTA1000 (Beijing)

October 6: Wuhan Open WTA1000 (Wuhan)

October 20: Tokyo WTA500 (Japan)

However, Zheng’s team emphasizes that all these plans depend on her physical condition post-comeback and are currently preliminary arrangements.

One major reason for Zheng’s eagerness to return is the immense pressure to defend ranking points. Last year’s Asian season was remarkable, earning her 1540 points: semifinalist at China Open (390 points), runner-up at Wuhan Open (650 points), and champion at Tokyo (500 points). Failure to retain these points could cause her ranking to drop quickly, possibly falling out of the world’s top ten.

Additionally, to meet the challenges of her comeback, Zheng’s team has made several technical adjustments. They revealed she secretly changed the string tension on her racket to suit Beijing’s dry autumn climate. It’s clear she is fully prepared and determined to return during the Asian season. This decision is not only to manage ranking pressure but also to meet sponsor demands and contractual obligations, since dropping out of the top ten next year could negatively affect sponsor confidence and partnerships.

Fans and netizens alike have expressed support and excitement for China’s top player’s return. One fan commented, “Scars are the badges of a warrior,” which was widely praised online, and the “King’s Return” meme has gone viral across social media.

A user named “Wild Grass” straightforwardly said, “Looking forward to the healthy return of Queen Wen!” Others added, “Chinese tennis can’t lose Zheng Qinwen, fans can’t lose her. Her comeback is thrilling; she’s a queen of popularity and a major source of enthusiasm for viewers.”

In September, fans in Shenzhen and Beijing will witness the return journey of China’s leading player. Let’s stay tuned!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)