Zheng Qinwen's ranking plunge sparks widespread discussion, with Wei Sijia also becoming a major concern for outsiders.

After the latest WTA rankings were published, Zheng Qinwen and Wei Sijia both became subjects of public worry.

With 500 points deducted from Tokyo, Zheng Qinwen's ranking finally saw a sharp decline, dropping out of the top 20 to 24th place. This ranking also caused her to slip from second to third in Asia, trailing behind Rybakina and Naomi Osaka!

As discussions about Zheng Qinwen’s ranking heat up, the main focus shifts to another topic: whether she can return to the world’s top ten next year.

Although Zheng’s supporters believe she is currently laying low to come back stronger—“With Tao Mi’s talent, returning to the top 10 is definitely achievable”—others are less optimistic about the situation.

Many think that Zheng Qinwen’s attempt to re-enter the top ten next year is mainly hindered by uncertainties regarding her elbow condition. According to Zheng herself, a full recovery is difficult, and any carelessness could cause recurring issues, naturally affecting her ranking progress.

Furthermore, falling out of the top ten and losing the protection of a top seed status means Zheng Qinwen may face top-seeded players earlier in major tournaments, increasing the risk of early exits. Without good results or deep runs, her ranking cannot improve, creating a challenging cycle for her.

However, some are optimistic and believe there’s no need to worry about Zheng. Even if major events have many strong players, she can still compete in lower-tier tournaments. “Known for dominating weaker opponents, she can go far in 250-level events and has a strong chance to reach late rounds or win 500-level tournaments. There’s no fear of not earning enough points to boost her ranking!”

Those familiar with Zheng know she usually competes in high-level events, mainly focusing on 1000-level and Grand Slam tournaments. She rarely pays attention to 250-level events and sometimes even 500-level ones don’t attract her interest. But to avoid facing many top players, she would need to play more 250 or 500-level events, which conflicts with her high-end competition strategy—this creates a tricky dilemma.

On the other hand, some raise a practical point: what kind of results Zheng Qinwen can achieve depends less on the draws and more on her actual strength and performance during matches. Since “Zheng has repeatedly stated she has the ability to beat any opponent,” she naturally isn’t afraid of meeting top seeds early.

Therefore, with the National Games starting in November and Zheng confirmed to participate, her form and whether her elbow can hold up throughout the event will be key indicators of her chances to re-enter the top ten next year.

Of course, some express concern that although Zheng currently dominates domestically without many rivals, the risk lies in facing highly motivated opponents. If such matches push her elbow too hard, it could seriously hinder her ranking improvement next year.

While Zheng Qinwen currently worries many, Wei Sijia’s early exit at the Jiujiang 250 tournament has also placed her on the list of Chinese players causing concern among fans and netizens.

After losing 2-6, 2-6 to Bondar in the first round, the public was not very surprised since the skill gap was clear. Wei Sijia’s loss by any scoreline was expected.

The main concern now is that she has yet to win a match in the Chinese season this year, which is a significant issue.

Attentive fans noted that last year Wei Sijia won three matches during the Chinese season, so this sharp decline is understandably worrying.

Another reason for concern is that Wei Sijia has dropped out of the top 200 in the latest WTA rankings, currently ranked 218th.

Why is there so much attention on Wei Sijia’s ranking? Because she was once seen as a hopeful candidate to break into the top 100. Now, not only is that goal drifting further away, but she also remains stuck in a losing streak, naturally causing anxiety.

Looking ahead, it’s uncertain whether Wei Sijia will be able to participate in the Australian Open next year. Although she is only 65 points shy of qualifying for the Australian Open qualifiers, given her current poor form, overcoming this gap seems quite challenging. Clearly, Wei Sijia needs to work hard!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River’s Starry Sky)