Zheng Qinwen’s comeback to competitive tennis finally has a date. The Chinese star has been confirmed in the main draw of the Doha WTA 1000 event, marking her first official tournament appearance after a long and frustrating recovery period.
The Australian Open finalist from 2024 has spent much of the past year away from the tour following arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow last July. Since then, her match play has been extremely limited. She made a brief return at the Beijing tournament in late September, but that comeback was cut short after a single completed match, as she was forced to retire in the third set of her next outing.
Zheng initially hoped to be fully ready much earlier. After competing in just one event during the latter half of 2025, her plan was to relaunch her season at the Australian Open. That goal ultimately proved too ambitious. The reigning Olympic champion from Paris also entered this week’s Abu Dhabi tournament, only to withdraw at the last moment as she continued to prioritize recovery.
Now, the February 8-14 Qatar TotalEnergies Open in Doha will finally provide the restart she has been waiting for. In the opening round, Zheng faces an immediate challenge: a showdown with Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. It will be their second career meeting. The first ended in Zheng’s favor, as she defeated the American in straight sets to claim the Tokyo title in 2024.
Due to her long absence, Zheng’s ranking has taken a hit, with the former world No. 4 currently sitting outside the Top 25. Still, Doha offers a chance to begin rebuilding momentum against elite opposition. Away from the court, her profile remains as powerful as ever, highlighted by her recent appointment as a global brand ambassador for Turkish Airlines.
Zheng has been clear that patience, not pressure, has guided her decisions. When she announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open, she explained that although her rehabilitation was on track, rushing back for a Grand Slam did not align with her long-term goals.
After consulting with her medical team, she concluded that competing at the highest-intensity events requires peak condition—something she felt she had not yet fully regained. That cautious approach has defined her comeback strategy ever since.
Historically, Doha has not been her strongest stop on tour, with three previous appearances yielding no runs beyond the third round. This time, results may matter less than simply getting through matches healthy.
Above all else, Zheng’s return in Qatar is about reestablishing confidence in her body. If she can navigate the week without physical issues, Doha will already represent a successful first step back onto the WTA stage.
