A Difficult Stretch for Keys
Madison Keys will not be competing at the China Open in Beijing, which gets underway on September 30, bringing the tournament's total withdrawal count to nine. The 31-year-old American has had a bruising couple of weeks following a painful US Open exit, during which she surrendered a 5-0 lead in the deciding set against Qinwen Zheng in the third round. At her post-match press conference, Keys became emotional while acknowledging she had been dealing with difficulties for some time, telling reporters that the struggles felt larger on the inside than they may have appeared from the outside. She also addressed social media speculation about her health, pushing back firmly against repeated suggestions that she was pregnant, calling the comments unwelcome. Keys has been replaced in the Beijing draw by former world No. 2 Paula Badosa. Despite everything, the tournament retains plenty of star power, with US Open champion Elena Rybakina, runner-up Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, Iga Swiatek, and Linda Noskova all still listed.
Eala, Kessler Also Absent as Field Thins
Filipino rising star Alex Eala has pulled out of the Beijing event due to a scheduling conflict with the Asian Games in Japan, which runs from September 27 to October 3. The 21-year-old is seeking a WTA exemption to represent the Philippines without penalty; if that request is denied, she faces a fine and a points deduction. Meanwhile, American player McCartney Kessler has shut down her 2026 season entirely, citing physical demands from a grueling year and expressing a desire to let her body recover ahead of 2027. Rybakina, who won the US Open despite battling an Achilles injury, has not yet withdrawn from Beijing, though her availability remains uncertain. TennisDraw users tracking this bracket should note how dramatically the top half of the draw has already shifted.
