Three American players have won titles on the WTA Tour in October.
World number four Amanda Anisimova quickly left her US Open final loss in the past, winning the China Open title in early October.
A week later, Coco Gauff won her first title since the French Open, defeating Jasmine Paolini and Jessica Pegula on her way to the Wuhan Open title.
On October 26, another American star won a title – her second career title on the WTA Tour.
Unfortunately for the American, she has suffered a damaging loss in her first match after winning the Guangzhou Open.
Ann Li loses to the world number 1,829
World number 33 Ann Li recently won her second WTA Tour title at the Guangzhou Open, defeating Camila Osorio, Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Lulu Sun on her way to the title.
The American was praised by former world number one Andy Roddick, who described her story as one ‘we haven’t talked about enough.’
However, the 25-year-old has since lost in the first round at her next tournament: the Jiangxi Open.
Remarkably, Li was defeated by China’s Bai Zhouxuan – a player who, as per the ITF website, is currently ranked 1,829 in the world.
Li, who was the number one seed in China, was defeated 6-3, 6-1 by Bai.
Bai, 22, has a career-high ranking of world number 83, which she achieved on March 4, 2024.
As per the WTA, Bai has played at only one event during a 13-month period hampered by lower back and ankle injuries. The Chinese player entered the Jiangxi Open using a special ranking.
Bai, who recorded her first top 50 win by defeating Li, will face compatriot Hanyu Guo in the second round. Guo defeated young Rafa Nadal Academy prodigy Alina Korneeva in the first round.
Who are the other contenders in Jiangxi?
Li’s loss in the first round has given many players a big opportunity to make their mark in Jiujiang.
American world number 5 Alycia Parks is now the highest seed in the top half of the draw. Parks, who defeated Lin Zhu in the first round, faces 24-year-old Slovakian Kaja Juvan in the next round.
In the bottom half of the draw, second seed Viktorija Golubic will also fancy her chances of winning the tournament after Li’s exit.
However, there is another lesser-known figure who could make a big impact at the tournament.
Lilli Tagger, who has already been compared to Carlos Alcaraz and Ashleigh Barty, is through to the third round after beating Chenting Zhu and Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her opening two contests.
Tagger won the French Open Girls Singles title in June, beating Britain’s Hannah Klugman in the final.
