Wang Yafan withdraws, as three Chinese female players pull out consecutively!

As the first Grand Slam tournament each year, the Australian Open carries unique memories for Chinese supporters. It has showcased numerous remarkable performances by Chinese players, from Li Na’s Grand Slam singles title win years ago to Zheng Qinwen’s debut appearance in a Grand Slam singles final not long ago. These scenes of triumph and heartbreak together form unforgettable moments for China.

With the 2026 Australian Open approaching, fans are growing increasingly excited for the competition. However, there is some disappointment for Chinese followers this year, as the absolute leader of the Chinese contingent, Zheng Qinwen, announced after consulting with her team that she would withdraw due to not being at 100% fitness and unable to endure the intense demands of a Grand Slam event.

“Being on the court is just the first step; performing at your best is the greatest respect you can show to the match, your opponent, and the fans,” Zheng Qinwen stated in her withdrawal announcement. As one of China’s top players in terms of overall results and ability, she still has plenty of time ahead to achieve great success and need not rush.

Similarly, Wang Xiyu, another post-2000 player, has not yet reached match fitness after recovering throughout the off-season. Due to her injury, she has not undergone systematic winter training. Currently in a critical phase of rehabilitation, Wang Xiyu said, “It won’t be long before I’m back on the court,” and fans look forward to her speedy recovery.

Besides Zheng Qinwen and Wang Xiyu, veteran player Wang Yafan has also withdrawn from the 2026 Australian Open women’s singles competition. She had gained direct entry into the main draw through a protected ranking, which will still be available for use in future tournaments after her withdrawal.

Born in 1994 and having started tennis at age nine, Wang Yafan’s first Grand Slam main draw appearance was at the Australian Open. Back in 2016, she won three consecutive qualifying matches at Melbourne Park to advance to the main draw.

In the following years, Wang Yafan’s highlights included winning her first career tour-level singles title during the 2019 season in Mexico, which helped her climb into the world’s top 50 rankings.

However, in recent seasons, injuries and other issues have caused her career to be interrupted frequently, resulting in a significant drop in her world ranking. Nevertheless, at the 2025 National Games, she teamed up with Jiang Xinyu to win a valuable women’s doubles gold medal.

As a result, this year’s Australian Open women’s singles main draw will feature only Wang Xinyu and Zhang Shuai from China, while other young Chinese players will compete in the highly competitive qualifying rounds. What do you think is the farthest round Chinese players will reach in this year’s Australian Open?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Barbie)