Qinwen Zheng taking 'short break' after elbow surgery

China's Qinwen Zheng announced Saturday she is taking a "short break" from the WTA Tour after elbow surgery.

The 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist is ranked No. 6 in the world with a 19-11 record this season.

Zheng, 22, lost to Katerina Siniakova in the first round at Wimbledon earlier this month as a No. 5 seed.

"I want to share a quick update with you all," Zheng posted Saturday on Instagram. "Over the past months, I've been dealing with persistent pain in my right elbow during training and matches. Despite trying various treatments to manage it, the discomfort never fully went away.

"After consulting with elbow specialists and discussing thoroughly with my team, we decided that arthroscopic surgery was the best option to fully resolve the issue. Yesterday, I underwent the procedure successfully, and I'm grateful to have it behind me."

Zheng has won five singles titles, most recently at the Pan Pacific Open in Japan in October 2024. She still is looking for her first grand slam championship.

"Now begins the recovery journey. Over the next few weeks and months, I'll be focusing entirely on rehab--doing everything I can to come back stronger and healthier," she posted.

"This is just a short break, and I see it as a necessary step toward a better version of myself on court. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement. I can't wait to be back--see you soon!"

--Field Level Media