WUHAN, October 8, 2024 (Press Release)
The stars are set to come out on Wednesday at the DONGFENG VOYAH · WUHAN OPEN 2024 with some of the biggest names in women’s sport in action at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center.
All eyes will be on Olympic gold medallist and Australian Open runner-up Qinwen Zheng as she makes her debut at her home town tournament. Qinwen, who turned 22 on Tuesday, received a bye into the second round and takes on wildcard Jaqueline Cristian on Center Court.
“Since I arrived I got a lot of attention, I’m always very busy here in Wuhan,” said Zheng. “I met lots of different people. I love the people here. There is a lot of activity for me but I enjoy it, especially when I saw pictures of me everywhere. I know the people in Wuhan, they all want to come and see me because I can feel the passion already when I’m walking down the street. I mean, I love this atmosphere.”
2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff, reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejickova and this year’s other Grand Slam finalists Jasmine Paolini and Jessica Pegula are among the top eight seeded players in action on Wednesday, along with in-form American Emma Navarro, seeded six, and Daria Kasatkina, seeded eight.
Gauff comes to Wuhan on an unbeaten run following her victory at last week’s China Open in Beijing.
Court one in Wuhan will see history being made on Wednesday when the Andreeva sisters play each other in the second round. Elder sister Erika got into the draw as a lucky loser from qualifying and then won through to face her higher ranked younger sister Mirra. Mirra Andreeva proved too strong for China’s Xiyu Wang on Tuesday evening, earning a 76(5) 63 win which ensured that two sisters will face each other in singles in Wuhan for the first time in the tournament’s history.
“We decided that we’re just going to split the prize money for the second round, so whoever wins just goes forward,” said Mirra Andreeva, 17. “Of course I’m curious to see who’s going to win tomorrow. It’s going to be a nervous match for sure, for my parents especially.”
The Williams sisters were the last siblings to play on the WTA Tour – in 2020 in Lexington – and competed several times during their illustrious careers. The Andreevas will be the third pair of sisters to meet on the WTA Tour in the last ten years along with the Williams’ and the Pliskova sisters.
In other notable results on Tuesday in Wuhan, Ekaterina Alexandrova knocked out 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, lucky loser Lucia Bronzetti replaced an unwell Paola Badosa in the draw and then knocked out last week’s Hong Kong champion Ajla Tomljanovic and qualifier Lesia Tsurenko beat Great Britain’s Katie Boulter in the first round. American Amanda Anisimova continued her resurgent form with a 62 63 win over qualifier Cristina Bucsa of Spain.
DONGFENG VOYAH • WUHAN OPEN
October 8th Highlights #wuhanopen #wta
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— DONGFENG VOYAH • WUHAN OPEN (@wuhanopentennis) October 8, 2024
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