MELBOURNE, Australia — Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen has decided to skip the upcoming United Cup mixed-teams tournament set to commence later this month. She has chosen to prioritize her training and recovery in preparation for the first Grand Slam of the 2025 season.

In what has been an impressive year for the 22-year-old athlete, Zheng made her mark by reaching the finals of the Australian Open in January, where she faced Aryna Sabalenka. She went on to secure a gold medal at the Paris Olympics and finished the year as a runner-up at the WTA Finals, concluding the season with a ranking of No. 5.

Scheduled to represent China at the United Cup starting on December 27, Zheng took to social media on Sunday to announce her withdrawal. “After the long season that 2024 was for me, I need a few extra weeks of rest, recovery, and good training to get ready for the new season,” she explained. She reminisced about her positive experience at the United Cup in January of this year, adding, “I will miss the event greatly.”

Zheng expressed her enthusiasm about returning to Australia shortly, stating, “Still, I’m so excited to be back in Australia soon and I will see you all in Melbourne in a couple of weeks.”

With Zheng not participating, world No. 175 Gao Xinyu will take over as the top-ranked female representative from China at the United Cup. Meanwhile, the men’s segment will be led by world No. 45 Zhang Zhizhen as China prepares to compete against Brazil in Perth, Australia, on Friday.

The Australian Open is set to kick off on January 12, promising a thrilling start to the new season.