Qinwen Zheng Loses 430 Points, Slips to World No. 9 — Faces Uphill Battle to Defend 2,340 Points and Reach Year-End Finals

The 2025 Wimbledon Championships have concluded, and with them, the WTA’s latest world rankings are set. For China’s tennis star Qinwen Zheng, the update brought a new low this year — dropping to World No. 9 after forfeiting 430 ranking points due to her absence from the US Open.

Following Wimbledon, Zheng underwent elbow surgery and has been sidelined since. At last year’s US Open, she earned 430 points, which were deducted this season, bringing her current tally down to 4,003 points. This places her 3 points behind World No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, 380 points adrift of No. 7 Jessica Pegula, and at just about one-third of the total points held by World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (11,225 points).

Heavy Points to Defend Before Year-End

The challenge doesn’t end there. Zheng faces significant ranking pressure in the coming months due to her outstanding performance during last year’s Asian swing and the year-end WTA Finals. After September 2024, she collected a semifinal finish at the China Open (390 points), a runner-up spot in Wuhan (650 points), a title in Tokyo (500 points), and a runner-up finish at the WTA Finals (800 points).

In total, 2,340 points are at stake before year-end. The reality is even harsher — the 800 points from last year’s Finals are almost certainly gone, as Zheng currently sits just 21st in the race standings, making qualification virtually impossible.

Road to Recovery and Upcoming Schedule

Despite the setback, Zheng is back on the practice court. On September 3, she attended a military parade in Beijing, and domestic media reports suggest she may make her comeback at the Billie Jean King Cup starting September 16. She is also expected to compete in the China Open (September 24), followed by the Wuhan Open, the Ningbo Open, and, in November, represent Wuhan at the National Games.

Worst-Case Scenario

If Zheng were to lose all 2,340 points she must defend by the end of the season, her ranking could plummet to around World No. 30 — a stark drop from her current position, but one that underscores the high stakes ahead in her comeback push.