Thirteen prominent tennis players, including world number three Jessica Pegula and defending champion Amanda Anisimova, have withdrawn from the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing. The tournament, which runs from September 30 to October 11 at the Beijing National Tennis Centre hard courts, marks the first of two season-ending WTA 1000 series events in China, followed by the tournament in Wuhan.
The high-profile withdrawals hit the main draw hard just weeks after the conclusion of the North American summer tour and the US Open. Several athletes cited physical fatigue and injuries following a grueling season, while others opted for extended recovery time. Despite the absences, the top two spots in the WTA rankings remain represented on the entry list, with newly crowned world number one Elena Rybakina claiming the top seed and Aryna Sabalenka leading the bottom half of the bracket.
Jessica Pegula and Defending Champion Amanda Anisimova Lead Injury Withdrawals
Pegula, who reached the semi-finals in Beijing last year, carries the highest ranking among the players sidelined from the event, withdrawing due to a back injury. World number 10 Marta Kostyuk also pulled out of the tournament with a wrist injury. Amanda Anisimova, the reigning champion and world number 11, joins them on the sidelines due to a wrist issue. As a result of failing to defend her title, Anisimova faces a significant rankings drop, forfeiting the 1,000 points she earned in 2025.
In a recent statement regarding her absence, Pegula expressed her disappointment. “I am very sad not to be able to participate in the Beijing tournament this year, but I need to focus on recovering from my injury,” she stated. “The Beijing fans have always given me great support, so I look forward to returning to the China Open next year.”
Additional seeded players missing from the hard-court tournament include Victoria Mboko at world number 15, Sorana Cirstea at 16, Alex Eala at 18, and Madison Keys at 23. Both Pegula and Anisimova previously sat out the Singapore Open as well.
Alex Eala Foregoes Beijing to Represent the Philippines at the Asian Games
While most withdrawals stemmed from physical ailments, Alex Eala stepped away for a different reason. The 21-year-old was the only seeded player to pull out without an injury, choosing instead to represent the Philippines at the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20) in Japan, despite the potential threat of heavy penalties.
The China Open, first established in 1994 as a lower-tier WTA event, underwent several structural shifts over the decades. After a hiatus from 1997 to 2003, it returned in 2004 before earning Premier Mandatory status in 2009. Following the WTA’s consolidation of its tournament tiers in 2023, the event officially became part of the WTA 1000 series.
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