Zheng Qinwen Drops to World No. 24! Out of Year-End Top 20, But Australian Open Seeding Secured

After pulling out of the China Open due to injury, China’s top women’s tennis player Zheng Qinwen continues her recovery — though no one knows exactly when she’ll return. In the latest WTA live rankings, Zheng has slipped to World No. 24, and her ranking could dip further in the coming weeks.

Following Wimbledon, Zheng underwent elbow surgery and spent three months in recovery. She made her comeback at the China Open in late September, but after just two matches, her old injury flared up again. This forced her to withdraw from the Wuhan Open, Ningbo Open, and Tokyo tournaments.

Realistically, Zheng’s season is over. Although reports suggest she has signed up for the National Games, it’s unlikely she’ll take the risk of returning too soon — especially after her previous comeback setback.

Ranking-wise, the consequences have been significant. Skipping Wuhan cost her 650 points, bringing her down to 3028 and World No. 11. Later, she lost another 800 points from last year’s WTA Finals and 500 from the Tokyo title she won last season. After these deductions, Zheng now stands at 1,728 points, ranked No. 24 in the world.

Calculations show that 21 players are guaranteed to finish ahead of her, and while 13 others could theoretically overtake her, not all will. At worst, Zheng is projected to end the year around No. 29, which still secures her a seeded position at the Australian Open (Top 32).

Despite falling out of the top 20, Zheng’s focus now shifts to full recovery — because every setback is just the prelude to a stronger comeback.