The final of the 2023 China Open will take place on Sunday morning in Beijing with Iga Swiatek set to face off against Liudmila Samsonova in the last WTA 1000 of the season.
Swiatek is going for the first WTA 1000 title of the year in her final tournament, while for Samsonova, it would be a career best title.
Route to Final - Iga Swiatek
Swiatek in reaching her third WTA 1000 final of the season has had an easy and hard run throughout the tournament. She eased past Sara Sorribes Tormo and Varvara Gracheva, as well as Magda Linette.
But it has often been stringing those wins together consistent without lapses in the opening set this season for Swiatek. She had one of those against Caroline Garcia, but with a winning mentality edged through against an in-form player. That put her in good stead to take down Coco Gauff.
Gauff was in the midst of a 16 match winning run and had snapped her previously poor Head to Head record against Swiatek which was a catalyst for her greatest ever summer. But it was back to Swiatek dominance to set up the tie with Samsonova.
Route to Final - Liudmila Samsonova
It would be a first WTA 1000 title for Liudmila Samsonova, but one that would be a long time coming for the Russian who has often been part of a group of players who have been a spoiler this season.
Samsonova as an unseeded player has had a tougher route than most all being established stars. Alycia Parks to start, followed by Petra Kvitova. Both straight sets wins. Her only struggle of sorts came against Marta Kostyuk.
Jelena Ostapenko was eased through before she improved her Head to Head record over Elena Rybakina who she could ironically play in the second round in Zhengzhou next week.
In terms of Head to Head, Swiatek leads emphatically 2-0. Swiatek has only lost one set in those two ties and has won five WTA 1000 titles. Also she has a record of 15-4 in finals, compared to 4-2 for Samsonova.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
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- I, like writer of this wonderful article, also picked Noskova to win this entire thing. I would love it if she and Andreeva are in the final.Rapunzel12-11-2026
- "Priorities", Saba... spend less time in front of cameras, anti-Social Media, selfies and back to Tennis.
mandoist12-11-2026 - Tell this to Andreeva!mandoist12-11-2026
- Andreeva with 11 games in a row to add to Saba's downward spiral issue !!! Personal feelings aside... Jess Pegula may want to reassess her evaluation of Mirra's abilities.mandoist12-11-2026
- I predicted whenthe list was finalised that Linda Noskova would win the WTA Finals and her matches against Gauff and Kostyuk prove that. She is the best (underrated) player in the world!Rapunzel11-11-2026
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.mandoist09-11-2026
- Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!mandoist09-11-2026
- "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?mandoist09-11-2026
- Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.mandoist08-11-2026
- Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??mandoist08-11-2026
