3 favorites for WTA China Open 2024 after defending champion Iga Swiatek's withdrawal ft. Aryna Sabalenka
The China Open 2024 will be without its defending champion as Iga Swiatek recently announced her withdrawal due to personal reasons. The tournament, which will begin from September 26, will take place in the capital city of Beijing, and is a WTA 1000 tournament.
Swiatek is not the only player to pull out. Danielle Collins has been ruled out of the tournament due to an illness. Elina Svitolina has called it a time on her season after undergoing foot surgery. Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sakkari, and Ons Jabeur are some of the other players to withdraw as well.
Swiatek would've been the heavy favorite to win back-to-back titles at the China Open. Her track record at the WTA 1000 events is quite impeccable. She has lost prior to the semifinals only twice since the start of 2023, while winning five titles as well.
Her absence certainly paves the way for other top players to go all the way at the China Open. Here's a look at three players who could hoist the winner's trophy in Beijing after Swiatek's withdrawal:
#3 - Emma Navarro
Navarro's steady climb to the top this year has been quite impressive. She started the season by winning her maiden WTA title at the Hobart International, and then made the third round of the Australian Open.
Navarro continued to improve her results with every month. She reached the fourth round of the French Open, went a round further at Wimbledon, and finally advanced to the semifinals of the US Open. She also progressed to her first WTA 1000 semifinal at the Canadian Open.
The American's run at the US Open also helped her make her top 10 debut in the WTA rankings, peaking at No. 8 so far. While she's 3-8 against top 10 players this season, she's 43-12 against everyone else.
However, given her progress, it's only a matter of time before Navarro starts to outplay higher-ranked players on the tour. This could very well end up happening at the China Open as well.
#2 - Jessica Pegula
Pegula endured a tough first half of the season due to an injury. She showed signs of life a few weeks into her return as she won the title in Berlin, her first on grass as well. However, she couldn't sustain the momentum and lost in the second round of Wimbledon.
A similar fate awaited Pegula at the Olympics where she once again bowed out in the second round. However, she rediscovered her form immediately upon her return to hardcourts.
Pegula defended her title at the Canadian Open and continued her winning ways at the Cincinnati Open, where she reached the final. Her unbeaten streak finally came to an end at the hands of Aryna Sabalenka.
The American ousted Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the US Open to reach her maiden Major semifinal. She then rallied from a set down to beat Karolina Muchova to advance to her first Grand Slam final. She faced Sabalenka in the summit clash, and lost to her once again.
Pegula has only played second fiddle to Sabalenka in recent weeks. She's in great form at the moment, and is a leading contender at the China Open as well. She did lose in the third round here last year, though given her form, she seems primed to make it far this time.
#1 - Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka performed quite well in the first half of the year. She defended her Australian Open title and was the runner-up at the Madrid Open and the Italian Open. She lost in the quarterfinals of the French Open, though a stomach bug hindered her in that match.
Since missing Wimbledon due to an injury, Sabalenka's comeback has been incredible to witness. The build-up to her success this summer was gradual. She reached the semifinals of the Citi Open upon her return, and then lost in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open.
Sabalenka, who lost to Swiatek twice this year, finally managed to beat her in the Cincinnati Open. She easily beat Pegula in the final to win her second title of the season.
The Belarusian's impressive form continued in New York where she got the better of Pegula once again in the final to claim the US Open title for the first time. After a heartbreaking loss to Gauff in last year's final, this win was worth the wait.
Sabalenka is now on a 12-match winning streak. She has underperformed at the China Open given her results elsewhere, though her 5-3 record includes two quarterfinal appearances. Given her current form, she's the top pick to win the title, and would've been so even with Swiatek's presence.