October 06, (THEWILL) – Belarusian tennis star, Aryna Sabalenka returns to the Wuhan Open with determination to claim her third title at the tournament, which resumes after a five-year pause. The world number two enters the competition following her recent triumph at the US Open, her third Grand Slam victory of 2024.
The WTA 1000 tournament, which commences Monday, features a strong field including seven of the top ten ranked players. Notable absentee Iga Swiatek, the current world number one, withdrew from the competition following her recent coaching staff changes, presenting Sabalenka with an opportunity to reduce the points gap in the rankings race.
Sabalenka’s recent momentum faced a setback in Beijing where Karolina Muchova ended her 15-match winning streak in the quarter-finals. However, the top seed maintains that her focus remains on court performance rather than ranking calculations, stating her belief that concentrating on rankings and points defence often leads to complications.
The Wuhan Open holds particular significance for Sabalenka, who claimed consecutive titles there in 2018 and 2019. The tournament’s return marks its first edition since the global health crisis, with the main draw comprising 56 players. Sabalenka enters the second round directly through a bye, facing either Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala or Czech competitor Katerina Siniakova.
The competition for the year-end world number one position intensifies with Sabalenka trailing Swiatek by approximately 1,000 points. The ultimate determination of the top ranking appears likely to occur at the WTA Finals in Riyadh next month, adding further importance to Sabalenka’s performance in Wuhan.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
