Qinwen Zheng releases statement as both she and Mirra Andreeva withdraw from the Wuhan Open, ‘I’m very sorry’

Qinwen Zheng and Mirra Andreeva have both chosen to withdraw from the Wuhan Open after competing in the China Open final. Zheng secured the title by defeating Andreeva, marking her as the first Chinese player to claim the tournament's victory. This move comes after a series of recent successes for Zheng, who has significantly climbed the rankings due to her China Open triumph.

Despite her impressive run, Zheng is taking a break from competitive tennis. She has announced that she will be away from the court due to feeling "fatigued." The intense schedule leading up to the Wuhan Open, including appearances at the US Open, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the China Open, has taken its toll on her body. In a statement released by the WTA, Zheng expressed her regret, saying, "I’m very sorry to share that I will be withdrawing from this year’s Wuhan Open."

She fondly recalls her time at the Wuhan Open, where she made her breakthrough on the WTA 1000 level, and looks forward to returning the following year in optimal form.

Andreeva, on the other hand, withdrew from the tournament citing fatigue as the reason for her absence. She will now compete as a lucky loser, joining the draw at the last moment. Iva Jovic has taken over Andreeva's position in the draw, where she would have faced Zheng in the second round. Both players remain active in the season, with Zheng participating in tournaments in Osaka, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, while Andreeva attempts to secure a spot as the world number one at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells.