Sunshine Double Begins: Can Zheng Qinwen and China's Tennis Stars Make a Statement?

The 2025 Sunshine Double Tournaments kick off in Indian Wells and Miami. Zheng Qinwen fights to defend her Top 10 ranking after a tough season start, reuniting with her coach for a comeback. Wang Xinyu and Yuan Yue seek breakthroughs, while Zhang Zhizhen and Buyunchaokete aim for progress. With top stars competing, this high-stakes event promises intense action.

 

Sunshine Double Begins: Can Zheng Qinwen and China's Tennis Stars Make a Statement?
On March 5, the highly anticipated "Sunshine Double" tennis tournaments kick off, marking the start of two back-to-back ATP and WTA 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. Known for their elite competition, lucrative prize money, and crucial ranking points, these tournaments consistently attract the world's top players.

For Chinese tennis, this year's Sunshine Double presents a critical opportunity to bounce back. The national team has shown mixed form since the start of the 2025 season, raising questions about their ability to turn things around on the big stage.

Zheng Qinwen’s Top-10 Battle

Leading the Chinese contingent is world No. 9 Zheng Qinwen, who has struggled to find her rhythm in 2025. After an early exit at the Australian Open, she suffered first-round defeats in both Doha and Dubai, causing concern among fans. As a result, her ranking has slipped, with only 60 points separating her from No. 10 Paula Badosa and No. 11 Mirra Andreeva.

With just 75 points to defend at Indian Wells and Miami, Zheng has a prime chance to regain momentum. A potential boost comes from her reunion with longtime coach Pere Riba, whose guidance could be the key to her resurgence. However, her path won’t be easy—she shares a quarter of the draw with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Zheng receives a first-round bye and will face either Victoria Azarenka or a qualifier in the second round.

Wang Xinyu and Yuan Yue Seek Breakthroughs

Wang Xinyu and Yuan Yue have also secured main draw spots but have seen recent ranking drops. Wang showed promise last month by reaching the semifinals in Singapore, but early exits in Doha and Dubai have stalled her progress. She has 100 ranking points to defend in the Sunshine Double and will open against Mayar Sherif in Indian Wells.

Yuan Yue enters on a high note after winning the doubles title in Austin alongside partner Brincova. However, she faces more ranking pressure, needing to defend 250 points from last year’s quarterfinal run at Indian Wells. Her best singles result this season came in Brisbane, where she reached the round of 16. She opens against Dayana Yastremska in the first round.

Zhang Zhizhen and Buyunchaokete Lead the Chinese Men’s Charge

On the men’s side, Zhang Zhizhen, now Asia’s No. 1 male player, has endured a rough start to 2025 with multiple early exits. With just 40 points to defend at Indian Wells and Miami, he has a chance to reset and push toward his goal of breaking into the top 30. Zhang starts his campaign against a qualifier.

Buyunchaokete, another rising Chinese star, has struggled to go deep in tournaments but has impressed in high-profile matches, pushing world No. 4 Taylor Fritz and world No. 2 Alexander Zverev to tiebreaks. Making his Indian Wells debut, he faces American wildcard Sahith Basavareddy in the first round, with a potential showdown against Daniil Medvedev in the second.

Meanwhile, young talent Shang Juncheng has withdrawn due to injury.

A Season of Surprises in Tennis

The 2025 season has already delivered unexpected results. In the women's 1000-level events in Doha and Dubai, the champions—Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva—were unexpected winners. The men's tour has also seen numerous upsets, adding intrigue to the upcoming tournaments.

With global superstars like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, and newly crowned Australian Open champion Madison Keys set to compete, the Sunshine Double promises high drama. As the action unfolds, all eyes will be on Zheng Qinwen and her Chinese teammates—can they make a breakthrough on the sport’s biggest stage?