8 WTA players who will miss China Open 2024 ft. Iga Swiatek, Danielle Collins
Top names have arrived in Beijing for the 2024 China Open, but a few big names, including Iga Swiatek and Danielle Collins, will not be making the trip. The WTA 1000 tournament begins on Monday, September 23.
With main draw action set to begin in a couple of days’ time, let’s take a look at some of the top names that will be missed at this year’s China Open:
#1 China Open defending champ Iga Swiatek
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek would have been the defending champion at the China Open, having beaten Liudmila Samsonova to capture the title 6–2, 6–2 last year.
The Pole, who has been vocal about the toll that the busy Tour schedule can take on players, recently announced her withdrawal from the tournament, citing “personal matters.”
"Due to personal matters, I’m forced to withdraw from the China Open in Beijing. I’m very sorry as I had an amazing time playing and winning this tournament last year and was really looking forward to being back there," the 23-year-old said.
"I know that the fans will experience great tennis there and I’m sorry I won’t be a part of it this time," she added.
#2 Danielle Collins
Danielle Collins was forced to withdraw from the China Open owing to an illness. The American was set to play in Beijing for the last time, given her decision to retire at the end of the 2024 season, but fans will unfortunately not be able to catch her in action.
A blistering start to the season saw her capture the WTA 1000 trophy in Miami. It had also placed the American in prime position to make the cut for the WTA Finals, but her latest withdrawal will dent her chances.
#3 Maria Sakkari
Maria Sakkari, who has already missed big events like the Cincinnati Open due to an ongoing issue with her shoulder, has also chosen to give the China Open a miss.
The Greek player's recent struggles continued during the North American swing, as she only competed in the US Open but was forced to retire from her match against Wang Yafan. As such, her withdrawal from the tournament was not unexpected.
#4 Marketa Vondrousova
Marketa Vondrousova underwent shoulder surgery ahead of the US Open, which effectively ruled her out of the season’s final Grand Slam. Her withdrawal from the China Open indicates that she will be sidelined for a longer period.
Vondrousova had earlier in the year failed to defend her Wimbledon title, losing in the first round to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
#5 Elina Svitolina
Elina Svitolina's 2024 season concluded prematurely after she underwent foot surgery to address a recurring injury that had plagued her for the past two years.
The Ukrainian, who returned to Tour from maternity leave last year, will not be playing at the China Open or any of the other Asian swing tournaments in the coming weeks as she continues to recover.
“So unfortunately my 2024 season is now in the history books, as I have had surgery on my foot today to correct a long standing issue that I have been trying to manage throughout this year,” Elina Svitolina wrote in an Instagram post.
“I am excited for the opportunity to focus on my recovery and come back even stronger than before. I am determined to do whatever it takes to get back on the court and compete at the highest level,” she added.
#6 Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina will also be absent from the China Open lineup, having withdrawn from the WTA 1000 event.
The Kazakh player, who recently parted ways with her coach Stefano Vukov, had previously given her second-round opponent at the US Open a walkover at and has not competed in any tournaments since. No specific reason has been provided for her latest withdrawal.
#7 Ons Jabeur
Much like Elina Svitolina, Ons Jabeur has also decided to end her 2024 season early. Having struggled with a shoulder injury for quite some time now, she has decided to take some time to recover.
The Tunisian said she had made the “difficult” decision after consultation with her medical team.
“This year has been extremely hard for me and as athletes, we know that recovery is part of the journey,” Jabeur wrote on social media.
“Due to my ongoing shoulder injury, my medical team and I have made the difficult decision to step off the tennis circuit for the rest of the season,” she added.
#8 Caroline Wozniacki
Two-time former champion Caroline Wozniacki has also decided against travelling to China. She has not given any specific reason for pulling out. The Dane, who lifted the titles in Beijing in 2010 and 2018, last played at the US Open, reaching the fourth round for the second year running.