At the beginning of the 2012 season, Zheng switched her racquet to the new Yonex EZONE Xi 98 model.

She began the season by winning the ASB Classic, her first WTA singles title since 2006.
The unseeded Zheng defeated Ayumi Morita 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 in the first round before upsetting eighth seed Monica Niculescu in the second, 6–0, 6–2.
In the quarterfinals, Zheng beat Lucie Hradecká 6–2, 6–3, and third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 in the semifinals.
In the final, Zheng defeated fourth seed Flavia Pennetta 2–6, 6–3, 2–0 as the Italian retired due to injury.

She was scheduled to play at the Moorilla Hobart International, but withdrew due to a right thigh injury.
At the Australian Open, Zheng reached the fourth round, where she was beaten by Sara Errani, with straight sets wins over Madison Keys, Roberta Vinci and top-10 ranked Marion Bartoli.

She had a disappointing run of results following the Australian Open, failing to win a match until the BNP Paribas Open where she handily defeated Michaëlla Krajicek having received a first-round bye.
In the third round, Zheng lost to Li Na 1–6, 3–6.
Zheng then reached the third round at the Sony Ericsson Open, beating Hradecká and Angelique Kerber in straight sets before losing to Dominika Cibulková, 2–6, 0–6.

The clay season in Estoril she began as the fifth seed.
In the first round she defeated Ekaterina Makarova 6–3, 6–1, but lost in the second round to Galina Voskoboeva.
Zheng then lost in the first round of Madrid, Rome and Brussels to Maria Kirilenko, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Arantxa Rus, respectively.
At the French Open, Zheng was seeded 31st, but lost in the second round to Aleksandra Wozniak.

She chose to begin the grass-court season in Birmingham, however as she registered late she was forced to qualify for the main draw, which she did by beating both Natalie Grandin and Sandra Zaniewska.
Zheng won three matches to reach the quarter-finals, where she defeated fourth-seeded Roberta Vinci in a three set match hampered by multiple rain delays.
In the semifinals Zheng lost to Jelena Janković in three sets.

At Wimbledon, Zheng entered both ladies' singles (seeded 25th) and ladies' doubles, partnering with compatriot Peng Shuai (unseeded).
In the first round singles, she defeated unseeded Canadian Stéphanie Dubois 4–6, 6–4, 6–3.
In round two, Zheng avenged her French Open defeat by Wozniak, another unseeded Canadian, in straight sets 6–4, 6–2.
In the third round, Zheng lost 7–6, 2–6, 7–9 to Serena Williams who hit a Wimbledon record of 23 aces.
In the first-round doubles, Zheng and Peng lost to Marina Erakovic and Tamarine Tanasugarn, 2–6, 2–6.

At the US Open, Zheng lost in the third round to world No.
1 Victoria Azarenka 0–6, 1–6.
In doubles, Zheng decided to partner with Katarina Srebotnik, however they lost in the first round.

Following the US Open, Zheng competed in the Asian swing.
Zheng was the second seed in Guangzhou, but lost in the second round to Laura Robson.
In Tokyo, Zheng was crushed by Dominika Cibulková 6–0, 6–3 in the second round, while in Beijing Zheng was upset in the first round by Lara Arruabarrena Vecino.
In Osaka Zheng was seeded second, but lost to Pauline Parmentier in the second round.

Zheng qualified for the Qatar Airways Tournament of Champions as a result of the withdrawal of Venus Williams.
In the round-robin section of the tournament, Zheng was grouped with Nadia Petrova, Maria Kirilenko and Tsvetana Pironkova.
Zheng lost her matches to Petrova and Pironkova, and retired while down in the first set against Sofia Arvidsson, Kirilenko's replacement.
Zheng ended the year ranked No.
26.
At the beginning of the 2012 season, Zheng switched her racquet to the new Yonex EZONE Xi 98 model.
She began the season by winning the ASB Classic, her first WTA singles title since 2006. The unseeded Zheng defeated Ayumi Morita 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 in the first round before upsetting eighth seed Monica Niculescu in the second, 6–0, 6–2. In the quarterfinals, Zheng beat Lucie Hradecká 6–2, 6–3, and third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 in the semifinals. In the final, Zheng defeated fourth seed Flavia Pennetta 2–6, 6–3, 2–0 as the Italian retired due to injury.
She was scheduled to play at the Moorilla Hobart International, but withdrew due to a right thigh injury. At the Australian Open, Zheng reached the fourth round, where she was beaten by Sara Errani, with straight sets wins over Madison Keys, Roberta Vinci and top-10 ranked Marion Bartoli.
She had a disappointing run of results following the Australian Open, failing to win a match until the BNP Paribas Open where she handily defeated Michaëlla Krajicek having received a first-round bye. In the third round, Zheng lost to Li Na 1–6, 3–6. Zheng then reached the third round at the Sony Ericsson Open, beating Hradecká and Angelique Kerber in straight sets before losing to Dominika Cibulková, 2–6, 0–6.
The clay season in Estoril she began as the fifth seed. In the first round she defeated Ekaterina Makarova 6–3, 6–1, but lost in the second round to Galina Voskoboeva. Zheng then lost in the first round of Madrid, Rome and Brussels to Maria Kirilenko, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Arantxa Rus, respectively. At the French Open, Zheng was seeded 31st, but lost in the second round to Aleksandra Wozniak.
She chose to begin the grass-court season in Birmingham, however as she registered late she was forced to qualify for the main draw, which she did by beating both Natalie Grandin and Sandra Zaniewska. Zheng won three matches to reach the quarter-finals, where she defeated fourth-seeded Roberta Vinci in a three set match hampered by multiple rain delays. In the semifinals Zheng lost to Jelena Janković in three sets.
At Wimbledon, Zheng entered both ladies' singles (seeded 25th) and ladies' doubles, partnering with compatriot Peng Shuai (unseeded). In the first round singles, she defeated unseeded Canadian Stéphanie Dubois 4–6, 6–4, 6–3. In round two, Zheng avenged her French Open defeat by Wozniak, another unseeded Canadian, in straight sets 6–4, 6–2. In the third round, Zheng lost 7–6, 2–6, 7–9 to Serena Williams who hit a Wimbledon record of 23 aces. In the first-round doubles, Zheng and Peng lost to Marina Erakovic and Tamarine Tanasugarn, 2–6, 2–6.
At the US Open, Zheng lost in the third round to world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 0–6, 1–6. In doubles, Zheng decided to partner with Katarina Srebotnik, however they lost in the first round.
Following the US Open, Zheng competed in the Asian swing. Zheng was the second seed in Guangzhou, but lost in the second round to Laura Robson. In Tokyo, Zheng was crushed by Dominika Cibulková 6–0, 6–3 in the second round, while in Beijing Zheng was upset in the first round by Lara Arruabarrena Vecino. In Osaka Zheng was seeded second, but lost to Pauline Parmentier in the second round.
Zheng qualified for the Qatar Airways Tournament of Champions as a result of the withdrawal of Venus Williams. In the round-robin section of the tournament, Zheng was grouped with Nadia Petrova, Maria Kirilenko and Tsvetana Pironkova. Zheng lost her matches to Petrova and Pironkova, and retired while down in the first set against Sofia Arvidsson, Kirilenko's replacement. Zheng ended the year ranked No. 26.
Zheng Jie