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Olympic Champ Zheng Ousted Early at French Open
25 May
Summary
- Zheng Qinwen exited the French Open in the first round.
- An ongoing right elbow injury required surgery in July 2025.
- Her ranking is expected to fall out of the world's top 100.
Zheng Qinwen, the 2024 Paris Games Olympic gold medalist, has been eliminated in the first round of the 2026 French Open. She suffered a 6-4, 6-0 loss to Poland's Maja Chwalińska, ranked world No. 114. Zheng's performance was marked by numerous unforced errors and apparent physical struggles, including treatment for a foot problem.
This early exit is a significant blow to Zheng's career, which has been hampered by injuries since her Olympic triumph. An ongoing right elbow injury necessitated surgery in July 2025, limiting her play. Despite returning in February 2026, her win record has been sparse. Consequently, her ranking is projected to drop out of the top 100, forcing her into qualifying rounds for major tournaments.
Zheng's diminished form and ranking raise concerns for the tour, given her magnetic personality and past successes, including a run to the 2024 Australian Open final. She will now need to compete in lower-tier events to regain entry into Grand Slams and WTA 1000 tournaments. Meanwhile, Chwalińska advances to the second round to face Elise Mertens or Tatjana Maria.
