The Wuhan Open 2024 started its qualifying phase on Saturday. The tournament, the last of the year in the WTA 1000 category, will count with the participation of the top players of the circuit, despite the absence of the world No. 1, Iga Swiatek. Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa, among others, will be looking to win the tournament that will complete the WTA Finals.
The Chinese city of Wuhan is back in the spotlight of the tennis world after a 5-year hiatus as the venue for the last WTA 1000 of the season. Much expectation has been generated among fans and players to see the protagonists of the circuit battle not only to lift the trophy but also to earn a place in the Finals in Riyadh.
As already mentioned, the world number 1, Iga Swiatek, will not be present in this edition of the tournament. Swiatek continues to struggle with some physical problems that have not allowed her to return to the level shown in the first half of the year.
Naomi Osaka is another of the leading players who will not be present. The former US Open champion has also had some physical problems and is currently trying to combine Tour competition with taking care of her family. The Japanese will take a break to recover and get back to 100%.
Elena Rybakina and Danielle Collins will not be in Wuhan either. The case of the Kazakh is a bit of a surprise, due to all the noise that has been surrounding her lately. Many withdrawals, many physical problems and the recent dismissal of her coach of many years: Stefan Vukov.
The American was unable to sustain a blistering start to the season, which easily ended up making this 2024 the best year of her career, winning at Indian Wells. Unfortunately, since the US Open things have not gone well for Collins, accumulating many injuries and early eliminations.
It is a good opportunity for players who have come close in the WTA Race to Riyadh, such as Spain's Paula Badosa and Emma Navarro. Also at stake will be the top of the ranking, with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka looking to take the top spot.
Maria Sakkari is also another who will not play in Wuhan and hasn't played for most of the back end of the season since losing in tears with a shoulder injury at the US Open. It seems like in some cases, the tour is taking its toll and the absentees are mainly down to wear and tear from a long year.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Wuhan Open after she ended cooperation with her coach. "After three years of achieving the greatest successes in my career, coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and I decided to end our cooperation," the Polish player wrote in a statement on Friday.
