WUHAN, September 20, 2018

This year’s Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open gets underway on Friday with the opening round of the qualifying competition for the US$2.7 million event in Central China and Day One features some of the WTA Tour’s most accomplished names.

2013 Wimbledon finalist and former World No.12 Sabine Lisicki continues her comeback from injury with a tough opener against accomplished Swiss Viktorija Golubic; 2016 Olympic Gold medallist Monica Puig is up against young American Claire Liu, former World No.8 and Grand Slam semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova plays Australian up-and-comer Lizette Cabrera while Yulia Putintseva faces local favourite Fang Ying Xun.

Lisicki, who only returned to competition earlier this week at the WTA Guangzhou Open, underwent knee surgery last November only to have her comeback halted by issues with her left foot. She received a wildcard into qualifying here in Wuhan and will be playing only her sixth WTA event of 2018.

Qualifying takes place over two rounds in Wuhan, played on Friday and Saturday, with 32 players competing for the chance to join World No.1 Simona Halep, two-time Wimbledon and two-time Wuhan champion Petra Kvitova, Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber, double Grand Slam winner Garbiñe Muguruza, reigning Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki and a host of other huge names in the prestigious tournament’s Main Draw.

A full qualifying draw is attached and can be found at: http://www.wtatennis.com/tournament/2018-wuhan-china-1075#draws