Mon Mar 10 04:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Chinese Tennis Star Qinwen Zheng Advances at Indian Wells Despite Elbow Pain
**Indian Wells, CA** – Top-ranked Chinese tennis player Qinwen Zheng advanced to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, defeating Victoria Azarenka in straight sets (6-3, 6-4). The victory comes despite a challenging start to the 2025 season for Zheng, who is ranked 8th.
Zheng, whose $15 million in endorsements make her the fourth-highest-paid female athlete globally, has been battling an ongoing elbow injury throughout the year. She has been wearing a compression sleeve to manage the pain, though she assures fans it doesn’t significantly affect her play. She stated her intention to reduce use of the sleeve as she continues to recover.
The 2024 season ended strongly for Zheng, but 2025 brought setbacks including a shortened offseason, a two-month absence of her coach due to hip surgery, and the persistent elbow issue, resulting in a 2-3 start to the season. Her coach has since returned, and Zheng credits a change in team dynamics for the renewed energy.
Zheng’s next match will be against Lulu Sun, with the winner facing Marta Kostyuk in the Round of 16. The match will be a highly anticipated clash between two rising stars in women’s tennis.
First Piper 