Top players withdrawing in large numbers, does Zheng Qinwen have a good chance to make a comeback?

Soon after the 2026 Australian Open wraps up, we will see two major Middle Eastern tournaments starting consecutively. The WTA 1000 competitions in Doha and Dubai are scheduled for next week and the week after. Being second only to Grand Slams and the season-ending finals in prestige, these 1000-level events are very appealing in terms of points and prize money.

However, the Doha tournament every year is held immediately after the Australian Open, so many top players are still in recovery mode and choose to withdraw. This year is no exception. With just a few days until the Doha event begins, several well-known players have already pulled out.

Sabalenka, who finished as runner-up at the Australian Open and is currently the world No.1 in women's singles, has already announced her withdrawal from Doha. She fought hard in three sets in the final but lost to Rybakina, a defeat that undoubtedly affected her. Besides Sabalenka, other players who have withdrawn include Pegula, Keys, Bencic, Naomi Osaka, Kostyuk, Jovic, Kudermetova, Vondrousova, Bouzas, and Riske.

From this list of withdrawals, as many as six players ranked within the world’s top 25 have pulled out, which is a significant blow to this year’s Doha lineup. Swiatek won the Doha title three consecutive years (2022-2024), while last year’s champion was Anisimova, who, as an unseeded player, defeated Azarenka, Badosa, Fernandez, Kostyuk, and Alexandrova to reach the final and ultimately beat Ostapenko to claim the trophy.

Of course, having many top-ranked players withdraw is not entirely negative. Chinese star Zheng Qinwen is currently training intensively in Doha, making her final preparations for a comeback. This season, Zheng has not participated in any tournaments; after withdrawing from the Australian Open, she also pulled out of the Abu Dhabi event this week at the last minute.

Since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow in July last year, Zheng’s recovery has been closely watched. Recently, her team’s comprehensive evaluation concluded that she is still not ready for high-intensity competition, so they have continued a cautious health-first approach, leading to her withdrawal from the Abu Dhabi tournament.

With many top players withdrawing from Doha, this may present a good opportunity for Zheng Qinwen to return. For a player just coming back, maintaining a winning streak can boost confidence significantly. However, even though Zheng is currently preparing in Doha, we cannot be certain she will compete there until the final draw is released.

We look forward to Zheng Qinwen’s full recovery and her return to the tennis scene at 100% health as soon as possible!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Barbie)