NEWS
Stellar match ups confirmed for opening round of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open
Time：2019-09-20Release：WUHAN OPEN
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will start the quest to retain her Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open title against countrywoman Aliaksandra Sasnovich when the main draw gets underway on Sunday 22nd September at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center.
The WTA Premier 5 event will be a first meeting for the two Belarussian players with the winner facing either seven-time Grand Slam champion and former Wuhan Open winner Venus Williams or her fellow American Danielle Collins in the second round.
The draw took place on Friday at the Wuhan Capital Outlets Center with players Wang Xiyu and Donna Vekic in attendance.
Other exciting first round encounters include former world No.1 Angelique Kerber against Olympic champion Monica Puig, 2018 Australian Open winner Caroline Wozniacki versus the tricky Hsieh Su-Wei and No.16 seed Vekic against former two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka.
Chinese wildcard Peng Shuai will face former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza with the winner setting up a second round clash against No.3 seed Elina Svitolina while China’s Zhang Shuai will face No.10 seed Sloane Stephens in her opening round match.
Another former Wuhan Open champion, Caroline Garcia landed in a tough section of the draw with a first round match-up again Daria Kasatkina with the winner to face No.1 seed Ashleigh Barty, who receives a bye in the first round.
Wildcard Naomi Osaka withdrew ahead of the draw ceremony due to her status in the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Osaka and was replaced in the draw by wildcard and former US Open Champion Samantha Stosur. Naomi Osaka said:
"I'm sorry to announce that I have to withdraw from the Wuhan Open. I am very thankful for receiving a wildcard and was excited to play there. I'm looking forward to coming back next year to the great venue and fans."
2019 DONGFENG MOTOR WUHAN OPEN - WUHAN, CHINA
$2,828,000
22-28 September 2019
Women's Singles - Main Draw
First Round
[1] A. Barty (AUS) - Bye
D. Kasatkina (RUS) vs. C. Garcia (FRA)
K. Siniakova (CZE) vs. E. Mertens (BEL)
A. Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs. [15] S. Kenin (USA)
[12] M. Keys (USA) vs. C. Giorgi (ITA)
P. Martic (CRO) vs. K. Mladenovic (FRA)
Qualifier vs. E. Alexandrova (RUS)
[7] B. Bencic (SUI) - Bye
[4] S. Halep (ROU) - Bye
B. Strycova (CZE) vs. [WC] Xiy. Wang (CHN)
[WC] E. Rybakina (KAZ) vs. Qualifier
V. Azarenka (BLR) vs. [16] D. Vekic (CRO)
[9] A. Sabalenka (BLR) vs. A. Sasnovich (BLR)
[WC] V. Williams (USA) vs. D. Collins (USA)
Qualifier vs. Qualifier
[6] K. Bertens (NED) - Bye
[8] Q. Wang (CHN) - Bye
M. Bouzkova (CZE) vs. K. Muchova (CZE)
Qualifier vs. A. Riske (USA)
M. Puig (PUR) vs. [11] A. Kerber (GER)
[13] C. Wozniacki (DEN) vs. S. Hsieh (TPE)
Qualifier vs. Y. Putintseva (KAZ)
[WC] S. Peng (CHN) vs. G. Muguruza (ESP)
[3] E. Svitolina (UKR) - Bye
[5] P. Kvitova (CZE) - Bye
J. Pegula (USA) vs. P. Hercog (SLO)
Y. Wang (CHN) vs. Qualifier
S. Zhang (CHN) vs. [10] S. Stephens (USA)
[14] A. Sevastova (LAT) vs. Qualifier
A. Tomljanovic (AUS) vs. D. Yastremska (UKR)
[WC] S. Stosur (AUS) vs. A. Anisimova (USA)
[2] K. Pliskova (CZE) - Bye
The first round of qualifying got underway with a win for former Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova who defeated Chinese wildcard Qinwen Zheng 62 64, and continued success for recent Nanchang winner Rebecca Peterson who saw off Heather Watson 62 62. China's Xinyun Han scored an upset with a 26 64 62 win over France's Fiona Ferro, ranked over 100 places higher above her in the WTA Rankings.
RESULTS - SEPTEMBER 20, 2019
Women's Qualifying Singles - First Round
Qualifying - [1] V. Kudermetova (RUS) d Y. Wickmayer (BEL) 76(4) 63
Qualifying - [2] R. Peterson (SWE) d H. Watson (GBR) 62 62
Qualifying - [3] O. Jabeur (TUN) d [Alt] N. Melichar (USA) 60 76(5)
Qualifying - X. Han (CHN) d [4] F. Ferro (FRA) 26 64 62
Qualifying - [5] L. Davis (USA) d L. Pattinama Kerkhove (NED) 62 62
Qualifying - [6] S. Kuznetsova (RUS) d [WC] Q. Zheng (CHN) 62 64
Qualifying - [7] J. Brady (USA) d [WC] Y. Yuan (CHN) 64 63
Qualifying - [8] T. Zidansek (SLO) d W. Osuigwe (USA) 16 64 62
Qualifying - E. Perez (AUS) d [9] J. Teichmann (SUI) 36 60 63
Qualifying - [10] B. Pera (USA) d N. Gibbs (USA) 62 75
Qualifying - [11] K. Kozlova (UKR) d S. Vickery (USA) 57 76(4) 60
Qualifying - C. Mchale (USA) d [14] A. Petkovic (GER) 60 75
Qualifying - [15] Z. Diyas (KAZ) d [WC] C. Tauson (DEN) 64 26 62
Qualifying - K. Nara (JPN) d [Alt] Xin. Wang (CHN) 46 63 64
Qualifying - L. Zhu (CHN) d [Alt] G. Dabrowski (CAN) 63 64
Qualifying - [Alt] B. Mattek-Sands (USA) d [WC] F. Xun (CHN) 26 64 63
ORDER OF PLAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2019
COURT 1 start 11:00 am
Qualifying - X. Han (CHN) vs C. Mchale (USA)
Not Before 1:00 pm
Qualifying - [6] S. Kuznetsova (RUS) vs [Alt] B. Mattek-Sands (USA)
Qualifying - [3] O. Jabeur (TUN) vs L. Zhu (CHN)
COURT 2 start 11:00 am
Qualifying - [5] L. Davis (USA) vs [15] Z. Diyas (KAZ)
Qualifying - [2] R. Peterson (SWE) vs [11] K. Kozlova (UKR)
Qualifying - [8] T. Zidansek (SLO) vs [10] B. Pera (USA)
COURT 3 start 11:00 am
Qualifying - [7] J. Brady (USA) vs E. Perez (AUS)
Qualifying - [1] V. Kudermetova (RUS) vs K. Nara (JPN)