[1] A doubles specialist, Zhao has often been a "utility player" on China's national team, winning international tournaments with a variety of compatriots who typically partner someone else.

Zhao was a women's doubles silver medalist with Wei Yili at the 2003 IBF World Championships in Birmingham, England, dropping the final to compatriots Gao Ling and Huang Sui, and a mixed doubles bronze medalist with Chen Qiqiu at the same tournament.

[2] Zhao was not selected to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a victim of China's great depth in women's badminton and rules that limit the number of Olympic entries from any one country.

However, 2009 proved to be her most successful year as Zhao won both the prestigious All-England and BWF World Championships in women's doubles with Zhang Yawen.

With these achievements, she reportedly retired from the Chinese team at the end of the 2009 season.