With the Wuhan Open hosting a second consecutive WTA 1000 event, the Asian swing is showing no signs of slowing down.
Aryna Sabalenka, who won the championship in 2018 and 2019, is aiming to complete an extended “threepeat” this coming week as the event returns after a five-year hiatus.
The Belarusian isn’t the only well-known person contending for the crown, though.
Coco Gauff, who is competing together with Jessica Pegula, Zheng Qinwen, and Jasmine Paolini, is coming off her seventh career championship at the China Open.
Before the action starts on Monday, we offer our pre-tournament picks.
Sabalenka recovers with a “threepeat” in Wuhan.
Sabalenka’s China Open campaign came to an unsatisfactory conclusion as she lost in the final eight against her longtime rival Karolina Muchova.
She can and should be able to close the distance on Iga Swiatek this week, but her quest to reclaim the world No. 1 status has been put on hold for the time being due to that setback.
The two-time Wuhan champion does not have an easy draw; in round three, she can play 15th seed Donna Vekic; in the last eight, Emma Navarro; and in the last four, Gauff.
However, the fast conditions in Wuhan are well-suited to her game, and she is still the title favourite despite the end of her 15-match win streak.
With a few days to rest post-Beijing, she should be primed for a run to the title.
Gauff continues resurgence
Beijing was a huge success for Gauff, who showed all her grit and determination in her quarter and semi-final wins before delivering a confident, high-quality display in the final.
It was the perfect start to life under new coach Matt Daly, and there is no reason to think that she won’t continue her resurgence in Wuhan.
Like all the top eight seeds, she has the advantage of an opening bye, which means she will have time to recover physically and mentally after her China Open win.
She initially has a good draw in Wuhan, with court conditions and her return to form likely to suit her in potential match-ups versus 13th seed Marta Kostyuk and eighth seed Daria Kasatkina.
A semi-final against Sabalenka could prove to be a stumbling block, though there is no reason she can’t go deep into the event.
