Ready for first major test

Even without "Queen Wen" leading the charge, the small Chinese contingent remains an intriguing unit to watch at the Australian Open, with the nation's injury-plagued aces eager to serve up fresh proof of their comeback in Melbourne.

Recovered and recharged after a solid offseason, China's best available men's and women's players have collectively shown quite encouraging form at the beginning of 2026, as they strive to swing their way back into the elite ranks at the season-opening major after a year of struggle.

With China's top star Zheng Qinwen sidelined by her prolonged rehab from elbow surgery last July, the country will be represented by only two direct entries through rankings in the women's singles draw — world No 43 Wang Xinyu and 73rd-ranked veteran Zhang Shuai — the fewest in a decade.

They will be joined in the main draw by two up-and-coming women, Yuan Yue and Bai Zhuoxuan, who made it through the qualifying tournament.

On the men's side, former world No 31 Zhang Zhizhen and rising star Shang Juncheng have secured main draw qualifications through their respective protected rankings, with the country's currently highest-ranked man Buyunchaokete also making the draw as winner of the AO Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff.

The country's first ATP Tour title winner Wu Yibing stole the show at Melbourne Park on Thursday by thrashing US opponent Tristan Boyer in straight sets in the third qualifying round to book his second main-draw appearance at the Aussie major.

The qualification of the 168th-ranked Wu rewrote history of the game, with four men representing the Chinese Tennis Association, the most to compete in the main draw together at any major event.

It's also the first time that the CTA will be represented by an equal number of men and women in the main draw at a Slam, serving up a testament of the inexorable rise of Chinese men on the professional stage, where their female counterparts have predominantly enjoyed much more success.

So far, so good — especially after a barren 2025 campaign that saw injury woes slow down the progress of China's best, without any singles titles won on either the men's, nor the women's, pro circuits.

In 2025, Chinese players in total won just 10 singles main draw matches across the Slams, while the recent early-season surge, backed up by some impressive pre-AO tour-level performances over the past two weeks, has raised hopes of a turnaround Down Under.

"Last year was a bit unfortunate for me, caught up by the injury right when I was improving steadily on the tour," said China's former world No 31 Zhang Zhizhen, who had to take a six-month break after Indian Wells last year due to a right shoulder injury.

"Now, I am picking up the intensity in training and getting into my rhythm again. My team has faith in me, and I am confident, as well (for a better season in 2026)," the 29-year-old said during his winter training program last month.

Representing China for a second straight year at the United Cup in Sydney, Zhang Zhizhen proved that he's back to feeling fresh and strong by battling past 43rd-ranked Zizou Bergs 2-1 to help Team China beat Belgium in its first tie at the mixed-team Cup tournament on Jan 3.

His mental and physical readiness for the major also impressed last month at the World Tennis Continental Cup exhibition event in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, where he stunned Italian world No 22 Flavio Cobolli in straight sets.

Having won eight career Grand Slam singles matches, the most among all Chinese men, Zhang Zhizhen said he's yet to reach his peak.

"My focus will be on elevating my ranking this year, and I believe that 31st won't be my ceiling," said the Shanghai native, who will challenge 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina in the first round.

Zhang's female compatriot Wang Xinyu, who's currently China's second highest-ranked woman after 25th-ranked Zheng, has also arrived in Melbourne with a needed confidence boost from her final run at the WTA250 tournament in Auckland last week.

Her deep run in New Zealand, only stopped by top seed and eventual champion Elina Svitolina, coupled with her straight-sets win over six-time major winner Iga Swiatek at the WTCC in her home city, has given Wang encouragement following her own struggles in 2025.

"I've had some injuries in the past year, and, sometimes, the most important thing is to (focus on) the people supporting me. I'm very happy to start my 2026 like this," said Wang, who finished the 2025 season with six straight losses after the US Open.

Women's veteran Zhang Shuai, who fought into her career first major quarterfinals in Melbourne in 2016, is expected to continue her inspiring resurgence that began in the final stretch of last season, during which she climbed back into the top-100 all the way from below No 700, which is where she was at the beginning of 2024.

The 37-year-old two-time doubles major winner (2019 AO and 2021 US Open) will swing off her singles campaign against local wildcard Taylah Preston in the opening round, while looking to conjure more doubles surprises partnering with Belgium star Elise Mertens as the fourth-seeded pair.

"I've experienced a lot of challenges coming from an injury-mired period (in early 2024) to come back from a very lowly position, and I believe I still have a lot of glorious days ahead of me," said Zhang, who is China's oldest major main draw player at 36 years old.

"I still have many goals to pursue, and many dreams to chase," said the Tianjin native. "I am not done yet."