Aryna Sabalenka faces a tough task at the Wuhan Open that could see her face two former Grand Slam champions before the semi-final.
Sabalenka has not been seen since her US Open win as the World No. 1 decided to skip the China Open in Beijing.
The Belarusian will return at the Wuhan Open as she looks to hold onto her World No. 1 status heading into 2026.
Sabalenka faces an incredibly tricky task as she looks to win her fourth consecutive title at the Wuhan Open.
Aryna Sabalenka drawn alongside Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka in Wuhan
Sabalenka has won the Wuhan Open in 2018, 2019, and 2024, but she’ll have to be truly impressive to win the tournament again.
The World No. 1 has received a bye for the first round thanks to her number one seeding, and a match with Anna Kalinskaya looks likely for Sabalenka.
The World No. 1 will likely play 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in round three, and the quarter-finals could be incredibly tricky.
Naomi Osaka, Leylah Fernandez, or Elena Rybakina could all be Sabalenka’s quarter-final opponent as the star has been drawn in the same section as three Grand Slam champions and one finalist.
The star’s semi-final could then see her face Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova as her next challenger.
Aryna Sabalenka has already emphasised the importance of the Wuhan Open
Sabalenka will be hoping for a deep run at the Wuhan Open, despite the difficult draw she’s been handed at the tournament.
Speaking at last year’s event, Sabalenka highlighted the importance of the tournament as a key preparation for the WTA Tour Finals.
I think between Wuhan and the Finals is like a three-week gap,” said the World No. 1. “It means if you don’t reach the last stages of the tournaments here, then you have a really bigger gap in between, which is not so good before going to the last tournament of the year, where every match is a high-intensity match.
Sabalenka is yet to win the WTA Tour Finals, with her best effort seeing her reach the final of the tournament in 2022.
