The prestigious China Open, taking place from September 23rd to October 6th this year, has revealed its star-studded lineup of players. Among them are 16 Grand Slam champions, including the current world number one players in both the men's and women's singles, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, who will all converge in Beijing.
Adding to the excitement is China's latest tennis star Zheng Qinwen. She is fresh off her historic Olympic gold at the Paris Games and will lead the charge for host nation players. Alongside her will be Zhang Zhizhen, who secured a silver medal in mixed doubles alongside Wang Xinyu, who will also be gracing the courts.
Not to be forgotten are other Chinese talents like Yuan Yue, Wang Xiyu, Wang Yafan, Zhang Shuai, Wang Qiang, Shang Juncheng, and Bu Yunchaokete, making this year's event a brilliant showcase of Chinese tennis prowess.
In the men's division, six of the top 10 players in the world have secured direct entry into the tournament. The likes of last year's semifinalists, top seed Sinner, world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Grigor Dimitrov are set to compete in this highly anticipated event.
Italy's Jannik Sinner during the the US Open tennis championships in New York, US, August 27, 2024. /CFP
As one of the prestigious WTA 1000 tournaments worldwide, the China Open will see the top 76 women's singles players vying for victory. This star-studded roster includes Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Caroline Wozniacki, and Emma Raducanu among others.
Furthermore, the China Open organizers announced on Wednesday that the first two wild cards have been awarded to four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka.
Zhang Junhui, the Director of the China Open, expressed his anticipation for this year's showdown in Beijing. "The player lineup this year is incredibly strong and highly anticipated," he said. "On the men's side, six out of the 32 main draw players are ranked in the world's top 10, including last year's champion Sinner and Alcaraz, who will both be competing. On the women's side, there are 75 players, with the final count reaching 77."