Zheng, Veronika Kudermetova withdraw from 2026 Australian Open
World No. 24 Zheng Qinwen announced Thursday she is withdrawing from the 2026 Australian Open, following extensive conversations with her team and medical consultations.
"After careful evaluation by my team and following medical advice, unfortunately I will be withdrawing from the 2026 Australian Open," Zheng, the 2024 Australian Open finalist, wrote in an Instagram story.
"Making this decision has been incredibly difficult for me. Melbourne is my 'lucky place,' where I won my first Grand Slam main draw match and where I had my best experience. I have a special connection to this place, and I was very eager to start my new season at the Melbourne Park."
After a first-round exit at Wimbledon last summer, Zheng underwent right elbow surgery to address "persistent pain," and withdrew from the US Open. The 2024 Olympic gold medalist returned to play at her home tournament of Beijing in late September, but was forced to retire against Linda Noskova in the third round and then concluded her 2025 season on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz.
She did have a strong first half of the 2025 season, reaching the semifinals at Rome and Queen's as well as the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, Charleston and Miami.
Zheng noted she is doing well in her recovery, but isn't at the level necessary to compete in a Grand Slam.
"Although my recovery is progressing well and my offseason has gone smoothly, to play a Grand Slam requires players to maintain an extreme competitive condition. Currently, I have not yet reached my best condition that I have set for myself."
Uzbekistan's Polina Kudermetova, previously the first alternate, replaced Zheng in the main draw. Alongside Kamilla Rakhimova, the Australian Open will be the second Grand Slam main draw with multiple Uzbek representation -- Iroda Tulyaganova and Akgul Amanmuradova overlapped once at the 2008 Australian Open.
On Friday, World No. 30 Veronika Kudermetova also withdrew from the Australian Open main draw. The former World No. 9 also withdrew from Brisbane this week, and has not played since winning the doubles title at the WTA Finals Riyadh alongside Elise Mertens. Slovenia's Veronika Erjavec replaced Kudermetova in the main draw.
The next five alternates to the main draw, in case of any further withdrawals before the qualifying competition starts next week, are Katie Boulter, Anastasia Zakharova, Lucia Bronzetti, Mayar Sherif and Sinja Kraus.
Three players have withdrawn from the qualifying draw -- 2021 finalist Jennifer Brady last week, and former Top 50 players Elina Avanesyan and Wang Xiyu on Friday. Along with Polina Kudermetova and Erjavec being moved to the main draw, this means the first five alternates to the qualifying draw have now got in: Great Britain's Mimi Xu, Spain's Aliona Bolsova, Croatia's Tara Wuerth, Italy's Tyra Caterina Grant and Australia's Destanee Aiava.
Rising teenagers Xu, 18, and Grant, 17, have both gained direct entry to Grand Slam qualifying for the first time. Meanwhile, 28-year-old Bolsova, who recently announced her planned retirement this spring, will make her last appearance at this level. Australia's Stefani Webb, ranked No. 651, has received the qualifying wild card originally assigned to Aiava.
The next five alternates to the qualifying draw are now Tereza Mrdeza, Mai Hontama, Marina Bassols Ribera, Chloe Paquet and Hina Inoue.
The Australian Open main draw is slated to begin Jan. 18 with qualifiers held the week prior.