Zheng Qinwen made a triumphant return to competitive tennis, securing a hard-fought three-set victory over Sofia Kenin at the Qatar Open on Monday. This marked Zheng’s first match since September of the previous year, and she emerged victorious with a score of 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, advancing to the second round where she is set to face Alycia Parks.
The Olympic gold medallist, currently ranked 26th in the world, showcased her powerful serve by delivering an impressive 20 aces during the match. Following her win, Zheng expressed satisfaction with her performance, especially considering her return from injury. “When you come back from injury, it’s never totally pain-free,” she acknowledged, yet she remained optimistic about her condition. “But generally I believe my elbow is in a good process because I could feel it. I’m in a really good stage, and I can keep going for another two hours serving,” she added.
Meanwhile, Mirra Andreeva, the fifth seed in the tournament, smoothly progressed into the round of 16 by defeating Magda Linette with a score of 7-6 (0), 6-1 after having a bye in the previous round. However, the day was marked by several surprising early eliminations. Notably, third seed Amanda Anisimova retired while trailing in the third set against Karolina Pliskova, and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu also withdrew in the deciding set of her match against Camila Osorio.
Looking ahead, Tuesday promises exciting matchups as the top two seeds, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, will play their opening matches in the round of 32. Fourth seed Coco Gauff will also begin her singles campaign after a challenging doubles outing on Monday alongside the promising young player, Victoria Mboko. The tournament continues to unfold with the prospect of thrilling performances from both returning players and fresh talents in the upcoming rounds.