A Packed Withdrawal List Ahead of Beijing
The 2026 China Open, scheduled to run from September 30 through October 11 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, is already missing 15 players before a ball has been struck. Seven seeded competitors will not feature, including world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who is managing a back injury. Defending champion Amanda Anisimova and world No. 10 Marta Kostyuk are both dealing with wrist problems, while Madison Keys and Victoria Mboko round out a notable list of seeded withdrawals.
Alex Eala is the one exception to the injury theme. The 21-year-old Filipino star is skipping Beijing to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games in Japan, a choice that reflects her growing profile beyond the tour. Anisimova faces a particularly painful ranking consequence: unable to defend her 2025 title, she will lose 1,000 points from her total. In a statement, she expressed genuine disappointment, noting how much she values the support Beijing crowds have always shown her.
Rankings Could Look Very Different After China and Wuhan
The points situation heading into Beijing is complicated by the fact that the tournament falls one week later than in 2025, creating an overlap with last year's Wuhan Open schedule. That means players are simultaneously dropping points from both events when calculating their updated totals.
Elena Rybakina, who enters as the top seed after claiming the world No. 1 ranking at the US Open, will drop only 215 points and has a genuine chance to extend her 2,026-point lead over Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka faces a 390-point drop, while Coco Gauff is in the most precarious position of the big names, staring at a combined deficit of 1,390 points across both China events from 2025. A poor run in Beijing and Wuhan could significantly alter the year-end rankings picture. TennisDraw users tracking bracket outcomes will want to keep a close eye on how Rybakina and Gauff navigate this crucial stretch.
