New Delhi: Four-time Grand Slam winner Aryna Sabalenka pulled out of the China Open after not having fully recovered from an injury, which she sustained
during her campaign to the US Open title a couple of weeks ago. The tournament is scheduled to begin on September 24.
The 27-year-old Sabalenka defeated America’s Amanda Anisimova in the final match at Flushing Meadows to seal the last Major title of the year. She will be out of the Beijing event due to the injury she sustained during the event in the USA.
“Aryna has not fully recovered from the injury she sustained during the US Open, and will miss the 2025 China Open,” the organisers revealed.
Sabalenka won the fourth Grand Slam title of her career, and first of the season, two weeks ago in New York. She made it to the quarterfinals of the China Open three times, having qualified to the last eight in 2018, 2023 and 2024.
The Belarusian currently leads World No. 2 Iga Swiatek by 2,077 points in the fight to become World No.1 at the end of the year. Both players have officially qualified for the WTA Finals Riyadh in November.
The entry list still includes many of the top tennis players, including Iga Swiatek, who plays in the Korea Open this week and also won the title in 2023, as well as defending champion Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. But it now won’t feature Sabalenka, who has taken a different strategy when it comes to the end of her season.
‘I am going to focus on recovery’
Sabalenka expressed her disappointment at missing out on the event in Beijing, but promised that she’ll work on her recovery.
“I am going to focus on recovery and strive to quickly return to the court at 100 per cent. I can’t wait to see my Chinese fans soon. I look forward to returning to Beijing next year,” Sabalenka said in a statement provided by organisers.
She is scheduled to take part in the Wuhan Open next month as her next tournament.
