Wuhan Open woes continue as Zheng Qinwen joins growing list of withdrawals

By SABC Sport
12th October 2026

The 2026 Wuhan Open has been dealt another couple of blows after Beijing finalists Zheng Qinwen and Mirra Andreeva joined the list of big-name players to pull out of the WTA 1000 event.

Just hours after delighting her fans by winning her maiden WTA 1000 title, the China Open, on home soil, Zheng confirmed that she won't feature in the second leg of the double-header in Wuhan.

The Chinese star would no doubt have been a massive draw in her home country, particularly after her victory in Beijing, but Zheng said in a statement that her body needs rest.

"I'm very sorry to share that I will be withdrawing from this year's Wuhan Open," Zheng said. "Wuhan is where my tennis dream began, and the Wuhan Open is also where I made my breakthrough at the WTA 1000 level. I have always looked forward to competing in front of my hometown fans.

"Since returning from injury... I have played a demanding stretch of tennis over the past month and a half, competing at the US Open, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the China Open.

"My body is feeling very fatigued after this intense run of matches."

The 2024 Australian Open runner-up has been in brilliant form recently. After dropping out of the WTA top 100, she bounced back by reaching the US Open quarter-finals after coming through qualifying.

She followed that up with a title run at the China Open, with her latest results helping her return to the top 30 in the rankings.

Zheng defeated new world No 3 Mirra Andreeva in straight sets on Sunday, and the reigning French Open champion will also miss Wuhan, citing fatigue following her run to the final in Beijing.

Those withdrawals came shortly after reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova pulled out with a calf injury.

The tournament will also be without world No 1 Elena Rybakina, who is sidelined by a foot injury, and defending champion Coco Gauff, who opted not to compete following her exit from the China Open.

Top 20 players Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova will also be absent.

Andreeva and Noskova's withdrawals prompted changes to the draw. Andreeva, who was seeded third and had a bye into the second round, will be replaced by American Iva Jovic, who moves into the second round on Line 17.

Belinda Bencic, the ninth seed, takes Noskova's place in the draw and also receives a bye, while Zheng was not seeded.