Linda Noskova reached the fourth round of the WTA China Open in Beijing on Monday after seventh-seeded local favorite Zheng Qinwen was forced to retire in the deciding set of their third-round matchup.

Noskova, seeded No. 26, started strong to take the first set 6-4. Zheng, playing her first match since Wimbledon following elbow surgery, responded by taking the second set 6-3.

In the final set, Noskova built a 3-0 lead before Zheng retired due to pain in her elbow, handing the Czech the victory.

Disappointment for Zheng 

The retirement marked a frustrating end for Zheng, who admitted she returned this week against the advice of her team to play in front of her home fans and is still not at full strength following her surgery.

“Because keep playing by a lot of repetition, I start to feel a bit more, which is normal,” Zheng told the press after the match. “I already expected that. I decided when the pain’s going higher, for don’t damage the area, I should stop. I kept thinking about it in the second set, so I keep pushing, pushing, until I say, like, OK, that’s it.”

Zheng added that she will undergo some tests and is hopeful that she will get better with time. 

“I need to double-check with the MRI to see how is going after two matches, there is one three-set matches, how it’s going inside with my elbow,” Zheng said.

“I think it’s still quite positive to keep playing tennis because that’s how you break the barrier. At the same time I got be smart. I know already in the second set I couldn’t push more. So right now I see, okay, maybe I can play first set, but to arrive to third set is too much for my elbow. I believe with time is going to be better.”

Career Milestones for Noskova

The win marked Noskova’s 10th career victory over a top-10 ranked opponent and her fourth of 2025. She became the second-youngest Czech player since 1990 to score 10 career top-10 wins, behind only Nicole Vaidisova. It was also Noskova’s 31st win of the season, a career-best total after finishing 2024 with 26 victories.

Potapova next in the last 16

The 20-year-old secured her first WTA tour-level win over Zheng in two meetings and will next face Anastasia Potapova for a place in the quarterfinals.

Potapova advanced with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Zeynep Sonmez. She holds a 1-0 career record against Noskova, rallying from a set down to defeat her in the opening round at Roland Garros earlier this year.