Zheng Qinwen competes with Czech player Linda Noskova on September 29 at the China Open. Photo: Courtesy of the organizing committee

China's tennis ace Zheng Qinwen retired from her China Open match against Czech player Linda Noskova on Monday due to an elbow injury, but did not rule out continuing her participation in the China swing.

Zheng made the retirement decision in the third set against Noskova, when she was trailing 0-3 after the duo leveled at 4-6, 6-3 in 87 minutes.

Speaking of whether to continue to play in the tennis China swing, Zheng said she needs to double check with the MRI to see what's going inside with her elbow.

"I need to double-check with the MRI to see how is going, after two matches, inside with my elbow," Zheng told reporters on Monday after the retirement. "I think it's still quite positive to keep playing tennis because that's how you break the barrier."

Zheng previously said that her recovery from a major elbow surgery in July was not yet 100 percent though she had delivered a solid performance under the circumstances, dispatching Colombia's Emiliana Arango in straight sets with 6-3, 6-2. 

"It's tough to really competing one match when you have this doubtful mentality because either you go full or either nothing," the 22-year-old noted after Monday's exit. 

Zheng had won both of her previous encounters with Noskova, including a three-set battle in the third round of the clay-court WTA 1000 Rome Open in 2024.

Before her second-round appearance at the China Open on Saturday, Zheng's last tournament appearance was at the Wimbledon Championships in July, where she lost in the first round. 

"One of the reasons that I decided to play is because I know people love to watch me. That's why I take a rush decision to play and want to see where I arrive," Zheng said. 

"I'm just really happy to play on the Diamond Court. Also I felt very sorry that I have to retire because my body couldn't afford more." 

This year's third round exit means Zheng collected only 65 points, considering her semifinalist performance earned her 390 ranking points last year. 

This season has been one with mixed feelings for Zheng. What promised to be a breakout year, as she reached career high as world No.4 in June, instead turned into a stretch of long absences and uncertainty. 

After showing strong form early in the year, she was forced to withdraw from or skip multiple tournaments due to persistent pain in her right elbow, which eventually made surgery in July inevitable. Although the recovery process has gone relatively well, she has made it clear that she still feels she is operating at only 70 to 80 percent of her peak.

Zheng's comeback carried heavy expectation and symbolism, as the Chinese fans were eager to see the star back in action. Organizers highlighted Zheng as the main draw of the day, calling her the "ticketing core." 

"The number of visitors entering the National Tennis Center exceeded 45,000 on September 27, setting a new record in the tournament's history," the China Open organizers said in a statement to the media. 

"She's such an incredibly aspirational figure," WTA's chief brand officer Sarah Swanson told the Global Times in an earlier interview on Zheng's impact of promoting the sport.