WUHAN, September 20, 2019 (Press Release)
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will start the quest to retain her Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open title against countrywoman Aliaksandra Sasnovich when the main draw gets underway on Sunday 22nd September at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center.
The WTA Premier 5 event will be a first meeting for the two Belarussian players with the winner facing either seven-time Grand Slam champion and former Wuhan Open winner Venus Williams or her fellow American Danielle Collins in the second round.
The draw took place on Friday at the Wuhan Capital Outlets Center with players Wang Xiyu and Donna Vekic in attendance.
Other exciting first round encounters include former world No.1 Angelique Kerber against Olympic champion Monica Puig, 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki versus the tricky Hsieh Su-Wei and No.16 seed Vekic against former two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka.
Chinese wildcard Peng Shuai will face former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza with the winner setting up a second round clash against No.3 seed Elina Svitolina while China’s Zhang Shuai will face No.10 seed Sloane Stephens in her opening round match.
Another former Wuhan Open champion, Caroline Garcia landed in a tough section of the draw with a first round match-up again Daria Kasatkina with the winner to face No.1 seed Ashleigh Barty, who receives a bye in the first round.
Wildcard Naomi Osaka withdrew ahead of the draw ceremony due to her status in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Osaka and was replaced in the draw by wildcard and former US Open Champion Samantha Stosur. Naomi Osaka said: “I’m sorry to announce that I have to withdraw from the Wuhan Open. I am very thankful for receiving a wildcard and was excited to play there. I’m looking forward to coming back next year to the great venue and fans.”
Women’s Singles – Main Draw
First Round
[1] A. Barty (AUS) – Bye
D. Kasatkina (RUS) vs. C. Garcia (FRA)
K. Siniakova (CZE) vs. E. Mertens (BEL)
A. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs. [15] S. Kenin (USA)
[12] M. Keys (USA) vs. C. Giorgi (ITA)
P. Martic (CRO) vs. K. Mladenovic (FRA)
Qualifier vs. E. Alexandrova (RUS)
[7] B. Bencic (SUI) – Bye
[4] S. Halep (ROU) – Bye
B. Strycova (CZE) vs. [WC] Xiy. Wang (CHN)
[WC] E. Rybakina (KAZ) vs. Qualifier
V. Azarenka (BLR) vs. [16] D. Vekic (CRO)
[9] A. Sabalenka (BLR) vs. A. Sasnovich (BLR)
[WC] V. Williams (USA) vs. D. Collins (USA)
Qualifier vs. Qualifier
[6] K. Bertens (NED) – Bye
[8] Q. Wang (CHN) – Bye
M. Bouzkova (CZE) vs. K. Muchova (CZE)
Qualifier vs. A. Riske (USA)
M. Puig (PUR) vs. [11] A. Kerber (GER)
[13] C. Wozniacki (DEN) vs. S. Hsieh (TPE)
Qualifier vs. Y. Putintseva (KAZ)
[WC] S. Peng (CHN) vs. G. Muguruza (ESP)
[3] E. Svitolina (UKR) – Bye
[5] P. Kvitova (CZE) – Bye
J. Pegula (USA) vs. P. Hercog (SLO)
Y. Wang (CHN) vs. Qualifier
S. Zhang (CHN) vs. [10] S. Stephens (USA)
[14] A. Sevastova (LAT) vs. Qualifier
A. Tomljanovic (AUS) vs. D. Yastremska (UKR)
[WC] S. Stosur (AUS) vs. A. Anisimova (USA)
[2] K. Pliskova (CZE) – Bye
