The 23-year-old Zheng was a finalist in the 2024 Australian Open but lost to current world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Zheng Qinwen underwent elbow surgery after being knocked out in the first round of Wimbledon last July, but made a comeback on the WTA tour in September. However, she had to cut short her comeback and admitted that she had returned too soon.
"After careful evaluation with my team and following medical advice, I unfortunately have to withdraw from the 2026 Australian Open. Although my recovery is going well and my training between seasons has been problem-free, it takes extreme competition fitness to play a grand slam and I am not there," she writes on Instagram.
