After 133 days of waiting, Zheng Qinwen announced her comeback through three intense three-set matches.

In the third round of the 2026 WTA1000 Doha singles, Zheng Qinwen, returning from injury, engaged in a 2-hour and 27-minute match against Rybakina, fresh off her Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup victory in Melbourne. The match ended 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, yet no one would label the Chinese player who fought courageously despite being down 2-5 in the decisive set as defeated.

In the first set, Zheng Qinwen delivered an astonishing performance: a 100% win rate on her first serve with zero break points conceded. Her serve was no longer just powerful; its precision was surgical. This technical aspect, once vulnerable under pressure, has now become her deadliest weapon. Rybakina admitted after the match, "Her serve made me very uncomfortable." A crucial break in the fifth game allowed Zheng to take the first set 6-4.

But tennis is never just about technique. In the second set, the new Australian Open champion began pressing Zheng’s baseline space with deeper returns. Zheng’s first serve success rate dropped from 71% in the first set to 49%, and unforced errors started to accumulate. Losing the set 2-6, the match entered the decider, seemingly heading towards the typical physical wall seen in comeback matches.

However, Zheng Qinwen chose a different path.At 2-5 in the final set, with Rybakina holding match point, Zheng had already been on court for nearly two hours, facing a player undefeated since the start of the season and holding both Wimbledon and Australian Open titles. Most storylines would end here—except the one Zheng was rewriting herself. She saved the match point, made it 3-5, then broke Rybakina’s serve again to save another match point. The crowd rose to their feet. From 2-5, she fought back to 5-5, but in the 11th game, despite leading 40-0 on her serve, Zheng lost five consecutive points and was broken, ultimately losing 5-7.

The numbers are stark: 39 winners to 32, 9 aces, and only 6 points difference overall. Beyond the stats, this match laid an intriguing foundation for the 2026 season.

In the past, people talked about Zheng Qinwen’s ceiling—serve speed, forehand power, and her talent limits. After today, the focus shifts to her floor: after 133 days away from the court, she delivered a narrow 5-7 loss in the final set against a top-three player in the world.

Rybakina said, “I’m glad to see her back.” This was more than just politeness. When Zheng used a series of delicate shots and backhand down-the-line winners in the decider to frustrate the Kazakh star, the newly crowned Australian Open champion clearly recognized that one of her toughest opponents on hard courts had returned.

Currently ranked 23rd with 120 points, these numbers will soon be updated. The Zheng Qinwen who appeared in Doha is more mature and patient. Her attack remains fierce, but she has learned to wait for the right moment; her emotions are still intense, but no longer self-destructive.

133 days ago, her elbow was in surgery. 133 days later, she nearly toppled the new Australian Open champion in Doha’s night match. From 2-5 to 5-5, she wasn’t just a noble loser but truly the main character.

The tennis season is long, with Grand Slams still ahead. That night in Doha, there was no miracle, but a seed was planted.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Mei)