WUHAN, October 4, 2024 (Press Relase)
2023 Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, resurgent American Amanda Anisimova and in-form local Shuai Zhang will join the all-star field for next week’s DONGFENG VOYAH · WUHAN OPEN 2024.
Wildcards Alex Eala, China’s Xiyu Wang, Romanian Jaqueline Cristian and US rising star Katy Volynets will also add their names to the strongest ever player field in Wuhan’s history.
Muchova has been in strong form in the latter half of this season after a rollercoaster ride of injury and recovery in recent years. The Czech has been ranked as high as No.8 in the world and has reached three further Grand Slam semi-finals, including at the US Open last month.
Muchova, Kenin, Anisimova and Zhang all moved into the main draw in Wuhan after the withdrawal of injured players above them in the rankings.
Nineteen-year-old Eala, from the Phillipines, won the US Open junior tournament in 2022 and is widely regarded as one of the most promising young Asian players on the Tour. She is already the highest ranked Phillipina ever, having reached 145 on the WTA standings earlier this year. Eala was awarded a wildcard into the Main Draw along with Wang, Cristian and Volynets.
This year’s stellar Wuhan draw will be led by Australian Open and US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka, ranked No.2 will be eyeing an opportunity to gain ground on Iga Swiatek in the race to end the season at the top of the WTA Rankings.
Swiatek withdrew from the Wuhan Open on Friday, saying that she needed time to adapt after making changes in her coaching team.
Among other notable names in Wuhan, Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejickova, US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula, Roland Garros and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini, as well as the Australian Open finalist and Paris 2024 Olympic Gold medallist Qinwen Zheng. Zheng grew up in Wuhan and is therefore likely to receive a rapturous welcome when she takes to the court.
The full list of singles players in Wuhan:
Player (WTA Ranking)
ARYNA SABALENKA (2)
JESSICA PEGULA (USA) (3)
JASMINE PAOLINI (ITA) (5)
COCO GAUFF (USA) (6)
QINWEN ZHENG (CHN) (7)
EMMA NAVARRO (USA ) (8)
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA (CZE) (9)
DARIA KASATKINA (13)
ANNA KALINSKAYA (14)
LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA (15)
BEATRIZ HADDAD MAIA (BRA) (16)
DIANA SHNAIDER (17)
MARTA KOSTYUK (UKR ) (18)
PAULA BADOSA (ESP) (20)
DONNA VEKIC (CRO) (21)
MIRRA ANDREEVA (23)
MADISON KEYS (USA) (24)
LEYLAH FERNANDEZ (CAN) (26)
YULIA PUTINTSEVA (KAZ) (29)
EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA (31)
ELISE MERTENS (BEL) (32)
AJLA TOMLJANOVIC (AUS) (33 Special Ranking)
DAYANA YASTREMSKA (UKR) (34)
KATIE BOULTER (GBR) (35)
ANASTASIA POTAPOVA (36)
KATERINA SINIAKOVA (CZE) (37)
YUE YUAN (CHN) (38)
LULU SUN (NZL) (39)
KAROLINA PLISKOVA (CZE) (40)
MAGDA LINETTE (POL) (41)
VERONIKA KUDERMETOVA (42)
MAGDALENA FRECH (POL) (43)
CAROLINE DOLEHIDE (USA) (44)
MARIE BOUZKOVA (CZE) (45)
AMANDA ANISIMOVA USA (46)
XINYU WANG CHN (48)
SHUAI ZHANG CHN (48 Special Ranking)
PEYTON STEARNS USA (49)
IRINA-CAMELIA BEGU ROU (49 Special Ranking)
ELINA AVANESYAN ARM (50)
ASHLYN KRUEGER USA (51)
KAROLINA MUCHOVA CZE (53)
DIANE PARRY (FRA) (55)
VIKTORIYA TOMOVA (BUL) (56)
Wildcards: Jaqueline Cristian (ROM) (74), Katy Volynets (USA) (59), Xiyu Wang (64), Alex Eala (PHI) (150)
Click here for the Wuhan Open qualifying draw.