WTA China Open 2024: Top five players who have pulled out ft. Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina & more

After the China Open, the Wuhan Open will be played for the first time since 2019.

The second-last WTA 1000 event of the season, the China Open 2024, is scheduled from September 25 to October 6. Top tennis stars such as Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, and more will compete in the Chinese capital for the prestigious title.

However, this year’s China Open is set to miss several top tennis players, including defending champion Iga Swiatek. Thus, with that being said, let’s take a look at the top five stars who will miss the 2024 China Open:

Players who have withdrawn from WTA China Open 2024

5. Elina Svitolina

Elina Svitolina’s season came to an abrupt end as she underwent foot surgery for a recurring injury. She last played at US Open 2024, where she lost to Coco Gauff in the third round. The Ukrainian tennis star took to social media to announce that she won’t return to action for the remainder of the year. Hence, she will miss all the upcoming events in 2024.

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A post shared by Elina Monfils (@elisvitolina)

4. Danielle Collins

American tennis star Danielle Collins has withdrawn from China Open 2024 due to an illness. Collins is playing her final season and will retire at the end of the year. Thus, it’s unfortunate that she will miss another tournament in the season, which has proved to be a breakthrough campaign for her. With the withdrawal, her chances of playing in the WTA Finals have also become slim.

ALSO READ: WTA Finals 2024: Top stars who can secure the remaining six spots

3. Maria Sakkari

After missing the Canadian-Cincinnati double, Maria Sakkari returned to action at the US Open. However, her return was short-lived, as Sakkari was forced to retire against Wang Yafan in the first round due to a shoulder injury. Thus, tennis enthusiasts will have to wait for more before they see the 29-year-old in action again, as she will miss China Open 2024.

2. Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina is the latest name to have pulled out of the tournament. The Kazakh tennis star has withdrawn from the China Open due to a back injury, which also forced her to retire from the second round of the US Open. Rybakina also recently parted ways with her former coach Stefano Vukov. She has pulled out from a total of nine events this season.

1. Iga Swiatek

Defending champion Iga Swiatek will miss the 2024 China Open. She announced her withdrawal from the WTA 1000 event due to personal reasons. Swiatek last played at US Open 2024, where she lost to Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. Swiatek has already qualified for the WTA Finals, and she’s also the current World No. #1.

However, Aryna Sabalenka will aim to close the gap, as she’s currently in a red-hot form. She won the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open. Additionally, she’s on a 13-match unbeaten streak and also defeated Swiatek in Cincinnati.

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