The best players in the world gather in China for the last WTA 1000 of the season, the Wuhan Open. With the confirmed absence of the world number 1, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to win the trophy and snatch the top ranking from the Pole. However, there are other players who are going through an excellent tennis moment and could surprise and get into the fight.
The tournament, which returns to Wuhan after 5 years, emerges as a possibility for many players looking to score points in the final sprint to the WTA Race to Riyadh. With no Swiatek, no Osaka and other notable absentees, the picture is quite open.
Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to recover from the blow that Karolina Muchova dealt her in Beijing in the quarterfinals. However, the Czech, who would later advance to the final of the China Open, would end up losing to Coco Gauff. If she manages to stay healthy, Muchova appears to be one of those players nobody wants to face.
Paula Badosa is also part of that list. The Spaniard has recovered her best level since the start of the North American tour, reaching far in almost all the tournaments she has played since then, becoming a dangerous player who on a good day has the tools to beat anyone.
Another tennis player who gave a lot to talk about on the US tour was Emma Navarro. The 23-year-old reached the semifinals of the US Open after having achieved good results at the Canadian Open. Although in recent weeks she has suffered unexpected defeats against lower-ranked opponents, Navarro is motivated to do well in Wuhan to give her enough momentum to reach the WTA Finals.
Local favorite Zheng Qinwen has also had a fantastic 2024 and what greater motivation could the Olympic champion have than to close the season with a title on home soil. The Australian Open finalist needs to perform well in the tournament if she wants to be in Riyadh.
Finally, we can't forget the brand new champion in China, American Coco Gauff. It seems that the days of irregularity on the court are behind her and the number 6 has once again looked relentless in the final stretch of 2024. If she manages to manage her energy well she could pull off the upset in Wuhan.
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.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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