Elina Svitolina and Zheng Qinwen are gearing up for a thrilling charity match at Melbourne Park, which takes place just days before the highly anticipated Australian Open.
Over the past few years, Ukrainian tennis sensation Svitolina has been a staunch defender of her homeland, using her platform to raise money for Ukraine in the midst of crisis. This upcoming charity event represents another significant moment for the former world number 5 as she teams up with current world number 5 and Paris Olympic gold medalist, Zheng.
Scheduled for January 8, proceeds from the match will go to supporting Ukrainian children in need, a cause that is particularly close to Svitolina’s heart. At 30, she recently overcame a foot injury after undergoing surgery in mid-September. She is now set to make her return to the Australian Open, having opted out of participating in tournaments leading up to the Grand Slam event.
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On the other hand, Zheng was originally scheduled to start his season at the United Cup, but decided to withdraw, citing a need for further recovery and training after a demanding 2024 season. “Hello everyone, just a quick update to let you know that I will unfortunately not be competing in the United Cup next week. After a long season I need a few more weeks of rest and preparation to get ready for the new season,” the Chinese star shared on December 22.
Fans can still look forward to this exciting encounter, as both athletes are now set to face off before heading to the Australian Open. It is worth noting that Svitolina and Zheng have never met on the WTA Tour, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this charity match. Although both players may not show their full competitive strength given the nature of the event, the anticipation is palpable among tennis enthusiasts, eager to witness this face-off in Melbourne.
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