Zheng, Osaka withdrawals add another blow to Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen

Zheng Qinwen has withdrawn from the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen next week, despite reports suggesting the world No 9 had fully recovered from elbow surgery and would play.

Zheng was originally named in China’s team to face Italy, just days after revealing she had undergone treatment. And on Monday, Italian website Spazio Tennis said Zheng had completed her rehabilitation at Rennbahnklinik, a sports medicine and physiotherapy centre in Muttenz, Switzerland.

But organisers confirmed late on Tuesday she would miss the tournament, with Olympic mixed doubles silver medallist Wang Xinyu stepping in to take her place.

Japan’s former world No 1 Naomi Osaka, who reached the semi-finals of the US Open last week, has also pulled out and will be replaced by Nao Hibino, ranked 183rd.

The 22-year-old missed this month’s US Open, the last grand slam of the season, after going under the knife in July to deal with a persistent injury that had plagued her season.

Zheng had the operation about two months before the team competition in the mainland city was expected to start, but physiotherapist Gabriel Echeva shared a video of Zheng exercising her arm at the Dr Boffa Medical Sport Centre in Barcelona, fuelling rumours that she would return.