Elbow pain still persists! Zheng Qinwen reveals crucial injury details, admitting her debut could have been better.

After returning to the tour and winning following a 133-day absence, China’s top player Zheng Qinwen entered the press room greeted by cheers and applause. Yet in the post-match interview, she spoke seriously about her injury and mentioned the upcoming round.

When questioned about the progress of her elbow healing, Zheng openly admitted, “I think pain cannot completely vanish once you return from injury.”

The Chinese star described the reality of a professional athlete’s condition: “The process always has its ups and downs; some mornings I feel better, other days worse.” However, she quickly shifted to a positive note: “Overall, I believe my elbow is on a good path to recovery because I can feel the progress.”

Regarding the condition of her elbow during her debut, Zheng frankly said that many positive signals from her body have boosted her confidence: “When I played at the China Open, I hesitated about whether to compete, but now I feel my elbow is in a pretty good stage. I can still play for two more hours, and my serve speed can reach 190 km/h.”

Reflecting on the rehabilitation over recent months, Zheng admitted the recovery took longer than expected: “No one anticipated the surgery would require such a lengthy recovery; we all thought it would only take two months before I could return smoothly to the court.”

She revealed a crucial detail from her recovery: “But during the China Open, my elbow still couldn’t fully straighten.” This small physical limitation greatly affects a tennis player’s serve and stroke motions. Now, being able to return to the court and perform at her level is a significant milestone for Zheng. Her perseverance and patience have been fully demonstrated throughout this process.

When asked to evaluate her overall performance today, Zheng maintained the clear mindset typical of a professional athlete: “I expected to play better. Especially in the first set, I didn’t read the match well, and my ball speed didn’t meet expectations.”

Yet she also showed the mindset of a winner: “But in the end, I found a way to win, and that’s what matters most.”

She explained: “In tennis, I can’t always feel perfect or hit winners every time, so I started to be more patient during matches, trying to step back a bit to find the rhythm before launching attacks again.”

This tactical adjustment allowed her to control the match even when not at her best form.

Despite higher expectations for herself, Zheng remains forward-looking: “I think there are many areas I can improve in this match, but I’m also happy to advance to the next round with the chance to continue improving my game.”

This young player is always striving for progress, not just satisfied with winning. Zheng’s confidence statement, “I can play for two more hours,” also signals that she is physically ready for upcoming matches, with her elbow recovery allowing her to face future challenges positively.

Regarding Zheng Qinwen’s interview, a veteran domestic tennis commentator said: “Today’s match showed a mature side of Zheng. Even when not at her peak, she found ways to win, which is a hallmark of top players. As for her elbow injury, professional athletes almost always compete with some level of pain; the key is how to manage it.”

An international tennis fitness expert analyzed: “Elbow injuries are especially tricky for tennis players because they directly affect serving and forehand strokes. Zheng’s ability to regain a 190 km/h serve speed indicates substantial progress in her rehabilitation.”

On social media, fans have been actively discussing. One fan wrote: “Hearing Zheng say the elbow pain will never fully disappear is heartbreaking. I hope she stays healthy; we will always support her!”

Another fan focused on her progress: “Although she said she could play better, I saw her ability to adjust during the match. From a slow start in the first set to finding her rhythm later, that’s the sign of experience.”

Another fan praised her professionalism: “Maintaining such a high level despite an elbow injury and having a clear understanding of her performance—that’s the true champion’s mindset.”

Tonight in the second round at Doha, Zheng Qinwen will face American player Parks. The match will be the fourth on Court 1. They have split their previous two encounters, but this will be their first meeting on hard court. Can China’s top player advance further? Regardless of the outcome, Zheng is currently on a challenging yet determined professional path. Injury is just a test along the way. As she said herself, there is still room to improve, which may mean more than the victory already in hand.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)