WUHAN, October 4, 2025 (Press Release)
This year’s strong line-up at the DONGFENG • VOYAH WUHAN OPEN guarantees some marquee first round matches at the WTA 1000 tournament, where Main Draw play gets underway at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center on Monday.
Saturday’s draw handed four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka a difficult opening match against former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez, while 12th seed Karolina Muchova plays former World No.16 Marta Kostyuk in a rematch of their fourth round encounter in Beijing last week.
Thirteenth seed and 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic will be up against former Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic, who won a Olympic silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 14th seed Emma Navarro, meanwhile, plays experienced fan favourite Shuai Zhang in their first round match.
The top eight seeds have a bye in Wuhan which means that Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina will all have to wait to start their campaigns in Wuhan.
Australia’s World No.20 Daria Kasatkina withdrew from the tournament with a lower back injury with her place in the Main Draw taken by a Lucky Loser from qualifying.
See the full DONGFENG • VOYAH WUHAN OPEN Main Draw here
Andreescu one step from Main Draw qualification
2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu is one match away from the Main Draw after a 6-4 6-2 victory over Tereza Valentova and plays Alexandra Zakharova in the final round of qualifying on Sunday.
“I think any match I play, the level is so high on the WTA Tour nowadays,” said Andreeva, who was playing only her second competitive match since August due to an ankle injury. “My opponent today has had a great year so getting that win today definitely helps me to see where my level is at.”
Elsewhere in qualifying, exciting young American Iva Jovic lived up to her No. 1 seeding in qualifying with a confident straight sets win over Kamilla Rakhimova, while Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, another promising talent on the WTA Tour, was outlasted in three sets by 6-4 3-6 6-2.
Viktoriya Tomova knocked Great Britain’s Katie Boulter out in the first qualifying round in an encounter which highlighted the strength of this year’s qualifying draw in Wuhan. Tomova beat former World No.23 Boulter 3-6 6-4 6-1 in a gripping match and will now play Polina Kudermetova for a place in the Main Draw.
Saturday also saw wins for doubles World No. 1 Ekaterina Siniakova and Australia’s Kimberly Birrell. Birrell’s compatriot Ajla Tomjanovic retired when trailing 7-5 2-5 in the second set against Vavara Gracheva with a left thigh injury.
