Zheng Qinwen may have had elbow surgery only days ago, but she has been named in China’s team for September’s Billie Jean King Cup finals in Shenzhen, raising the possibility of an early comeback.
Zheng Qinwen said she would be “fully prepared” for her opening match at Wimbledon on Monday against Katerina Siniakova, who knocked her out in the first round two years ago.
Zheng Qinwen has enlisted the help of a coach who guided Rafael Nadal to 22 grand slam titles, ahead of another shot at a Wimbledon title and a draw that has placed her on a collision course with Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka.
World No 5 Zheng Qinwen could find herself climbing to the top of a different rankings list after the Olympic tennis champion signed up her 15th commercial sponsor – making her potentially the highest-paid female athlete in the world.
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova needed three sets to beat Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu on Sunday and win the Berlin Open title, completing an improbable run to her first trophy since her London triumph two years ago.