World number six and reigning Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen has withdrawn from the upcoming U.S. Open as she recovers from right elbow surgery, tournament organisers confirmed on Monday.
The 22-year-old Chinese star recently revealed on Instagram that she had been dealing with persistent pain in her right elbow, which had been impacting her performance both in training and during matches. After various treatment attempts failed to resolve the issue, Zheng opted for arthroscopic surgery following consultations with specialists and her support team.
“I’ve been struggling with this pain for some time, and after exploring different treatments without success, surgery became the best option,” Zheng wrote last week. She has now committed to taking a short break from competition to focus fully on recovery.
Zheng’s 2023–24 season had been marked by major achievements, including a gold medal at the Paris Olympics and a runner-up finish at the Australian Open earlier this year. However, her form dipped at Wimbledon, where she suffered a first-round exit at the hands of Czech player Katerina Siniakova earlier this month.
With her withdrawal, France’s Leolia Jeanjean has been moved into the main draw of the U.S. Open, which begins on 24 August in New York. The tournament is the final Grand Slam event of the season.