Tze Yong upbeat as rehab continues in Qatar
The 25-year-old, who had only just returned to action following a 13-month layoff, sustained another setback at the Malaysia Masters in May and has since been undergoing post-op recovery at the world-renowned Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Doha.
While no fixed return date has been set, national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen shared that Tze Yong has been responding well to the initial phase of rehab.
"I've spoken to him and he's still upbeat," said Jonassen.
"Obviously, it's a long journey he's on, but my focus remains the same — give him the best opportunity to return to competitive sport by being supportive.
"He's still in Qatar, and I know from the physio that he's putting in the work on the areas that he can. I can't wait to get him back here, maybe not on a daily basis, but at least to have him in our training environment, even if it's just in the gym.
"From what I understand, the process is going well and he's in good spirit. And when you have to do a long rehab, staying positive is the key to everything."
Tze Yong, who posted a short video of himself doing light drills earlier this week, is expected to remain in Doha for several more weeks under expert supervision.
When asked if a tentative timeline has been set for his return to Kuala Lumpur, Jonassen said: "That is up to the doctors. They decide when they feel he's ready, and we will follow the advice of the experts."
Tze Yong's latest setback came just four tournaments into his return from back-to-back surgeries.
Once ranked as high as world No. 14, he has now slipped to No. 191 — and is no longer eligible for a protected ranking.
His long road back will likely rule him out for the remainder of the 2025 season, with hopes pinned on a full recovery by mid-2026.
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