A Thinning Field Ahead of Singapore
The Singapore Open is suffering a serious case of the withdrawals before a single ball has been struck. Egyptian star Mayar Sherif is the latest player to drop out, becoming the ninth absentee from a field that was already looking thin at the top. Sherif, whose career-high ranking of 31 makes her the highest-ranked Egyptian singles player, male or female, in the Open Era, had been scheduled to compete but has since been replaced by a qualifier according to the WTA's official website. Her departure adds to a list that already included the likes of Jessica Pegula, Diana Shnaider, and Sorana Cirstea, among others.
This year's tournament has been upgraded from a WTA 250 to a WTA 500, which has raised the stakes considerably. The champion will take home $185,500 in prize money, and the added prestige appears to have attracted a stronger top end of the draw, with French Open champion Mirra Andreeva leading the seeds. Amanda Anisimova follows as second seed, while Alex Eala sits third and defending champion Elise Mertens holds the fourth spot.
Eala Poised to Make Her Mark
For Eala, the shrinking draw could be a genuine opportunity. As a top-four seed in a WTA 500 event that now grants byes into the second round, she is guaranteed ranking points and prize money before she even steps on court at the OCBC Arena. That opening-round bye alone earns her 60 points and over $18,000. The Asian Swing, which also includes stops in Seoul, Beijing, Wuhan, and Tokyo, kicks off with this Singapore event, making it a critical launching pad for the second half of the season. TennisDraw bracket predictors have been closely watching Eala's seeding position as her draw luck continues to improve.
