WUHAN, September 16, 2026 (Media Release)

This year’s DONGFENG • VOYAH WUHAN OPEN starts on October 10 and promises to be one the biggest and best in the tournament’s history. 

Tournament organisers have invested more than US$5,000,000 into the Optics Valley International Tennis Center to add three new match courts and provide a state-of-the-art showcase for the final WTA 1000 tournament of the season.

Dongfeng • Voyah Wuhan Open is one of the cornerstones of the WTA Asian Swing and this year’s player field will be headlined by US Open and Australian Open champion and newly-crowned World No.1 Elena Rybakina alongside three-time Wuhan winner and World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka, World No.3 Jessica Pegula, defending Wuhan champion Coco Gauff, Roland Garros winner Mirra Andreeva and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. All of the world’s Top 10 players will be competing.

With 1000 WTA Ranking points and a total prize-money pot of US$4,088,211 on offer there will be plenty on the line in Wuhan. Only Rybakina has qualified for the year-end WTA Finals so a number of top players will need strong performances in Wuhan to ensure that they join her in the season-ending championships in Indian Wells. Sabalenka, who has been more successful in Wuhan than any other player, will be chasing Rybakina after losing her No.1 ranking to her in New York.

The star-studded 56-player field features 48 of the Top 50, with only Victoria Mboko of Canada and American Hailey Baptiste absent through injury. Hometown favourite Qinwen Zheng will play in the qualifying tournament having used up her quota of wildcards for the season, offering her many fans extra opportunities to see her play.

Qinwen Zheng, who grew up in Wuhan, missed last year’s tournament after undergoing elbow surgery so will be warmly welcomed back to the venue where she trained for so many years. She has been in resurgent form lately, coming through qualifying at the US Open to reach the quarter-finals before losing to Rybakina.

Filipina superstar Alexandra Eala will also join the Wuhan field after opting to miss the China Open in Beijing in order to compete at the Asian Games.

Tournament Co-Director Brenda Perry said: “We’re thrilled to welcome these incredible players back to Wuhan and the new match courts will truly enhance the Wuhan Open experience for both players and fans. Women’s tennis is in a fantastic place right now and we’re proud to be able to showcase that, especially with so much on the line and players competing to qualify for the WTA Finals.”