WATCH: Coco Gauff makes first appearance with mother after split with coach Brad Gilbert; Aryna Sabalenka lands in Beijing for China Open after US win
Top tennis stars, namely Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini, and Andrey Rublev have arrived in Beijing to kick off their respective China Open campaigns. The tournament in the Chinese capital is an ATP 500 for men and a WTA 1000 for women.
Sabalenka has had an impressive 2024 so far, winning the Australian Open and the US Open. After dominating the North American hard-court swing, the Belarusian will turn her attention to the Asian swing, with her first tournament being the China Open.
The World No. 2 received a warm welcome upon her arrival in Beijing, which she shared on her Instagram story. Check out the pictures re-shared by a fan on X.
Moreover, Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini have also arrived in Beijing for the 12-day tournament, with Gauff looking to rebound after her fourth-round loss at the US Open. The WTA 1000 event in Beijing will be Gauff's first since recently parting ways with coach Brad Gilbert. However, no new coach was seen with the 20-year-old, instead, she was accompanied by her mother, Candi.
The Wimbledon 2024 finalist Paolini, who recently exited the US Open after a fourth-round defeat, was all smiles upon her arrival.
World No. 6 Andrey Rublev also arrived in the Chinese capital for the tournament. Watch the video below:
Aryna Sabalenka aims to conclude 2024 as World No. 1 with momentum from the China Open
Current World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has withdrawn from the China Open, where she was also the defending champion, and will consequently lose 1,000 ranking points. This development has enhanced Aryna Sabalenka's chances of finishing 2024 at the top of the WTA rankings.
Swiatek holds 10,885 points, while Sabalenka has 8,716. Since the Pole will not compete at the China Open, her total will drop to 9,885. In contrast, Sabalenka could raise her tally to 9,501 with a title win, reducing the gap in their ranking points.
Another factor to consider is whether Aryna Sabalenka, currently on a 12-match winning streak since the Cincinnati Open, can maintain her dominance at the Wuhan Open. If she wins the title there and Swiatek exits early, the equation will become more favorable for Sabalenka.
Furthermore, Swiatek must defend 1,500 points at the WTA Finals, while Sabalenka will only have 625 points to defend. Therefore, a winning run in Beijing and Wuhan could be pivotal in positioning the Belarusian at the top.