Nine players have pulled out of the main draw before the China Open, the WTA 1000 event in Beijing, has even begun. For several, the choice was made for them. A knee injury ruled out Victoria Mboko, Hailey Baptiste required surgery on a cruciate ligament, and Emma Raducanu is still recovering from a fracture in her leg. Alexandra Eala's absence is a different story altogether. It has nothing to do with fitness and everything to do with national duty, with the Filipino opting to represent her country at the Asian Games instead. "We have formally requested an exemption and we respect the WTA's process. At the same time, Alex has made her decision to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games, and we fully support her," the Philippine federation confirmed in an official statement. Karolina Pliskova, Shuai Zhang, Jaqueline Cristian, McCartney Kessler and Madison Keys have also withdrawn, each for their own reasons.
The exodus has significantly reshaped the main draw, opening the door for players further down the rankings. Lanlana Tararudee takes Mboko's place, Petra Marcinko steps in for Eala, and Katie Volynets fills the spot vacated by Baptiste. Hanne Vandewinkel will take to the court in place of Raducanu, while Paula Badosa replaces Keys. Beijing hosts the prestigious event from 30 September to 11 October, and the reshuffled race for the title gets under way as soon as the official draw is complete.
