Team China

Zheng in doubt for Asian Games

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-17 09:11

Chinese tennis player Zheng Jie is praying for "a miracle" to recover from her wrist injury and play at the Guangzhou Asian Games this November.

Zheng Jie of China celebrates a point against Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland during the US Open tennis tournament in New York August 30, 2010. [Agencies]

"I will have surgery in the US next week, and will need at least 2-3 months to recover," said Zheng. "The doctor said if I don't have surgery immediately, it could be the end of my career."

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The operation means Zheng will miss the China Open, which swings away on Sept 25 in Beijing. The defending women's singles and doubles champion at the Doha Asian Games is all but certain to miss the opportunity to defend her titles in Guangzhou, and maybe even next year's Australia Open.

"I am eager to play at the Asian Games. Some people can come back only a month and I am expecting that miracle," Zheng said.

The 27-year-old said her wrist was injured at last year's Australia Open, but she had managed to play through the pain thanks to acupuncture, ice compresses, antibiotics and physical therapy.

She said she even used anesthetics to ease the pain.

Ranked No 23 in singles and 17 in doubles, Zheng battled her way to the doubles semifinals with Chan Yung-Jan from Chinese Taipei at the just-completed US Open. It was Zheng's best result at Flushing Meadows, but it came at a cost.