China Open organizers unveil initial star-studded 2026 player entry list

The organizers of the China Open unveiled on Friday the initial list of confirmed players for the 2026 edition of the ATP 500 event, with men's singles defending champion Jannik Sinner and World No. 2 Alexander Zverev headlining the star-studded lineup set to compete in Beijing in September and October.

Sinner will make his fourth consecutive appearance at the China Open. The Italian cemented his World No. 1 ranking by lifting the trophy at Wimbledon in July for a fifth Grand Slam crown. Zverev will also arrive in Beijing with momentum, after the German claimed his maiden major title at the French Open in June.

So far, six of the top ten men's singles players have confirmed their participation, including Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, Australia's Alex de Minaur, Russia's Daniil Medvedev and Italy's Flavio Cobolli.

On the women's side, top-75 players who take part will earn direct entry into the singles main draw. Based on the current rankings, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who owns four Grand Slam titles, and reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, are among the stars set to clinch their spots through the rankings.

The main draw at the 20th edition of the tournament will get underway on September 28, with the men's singles final scheduled for October 6 and the women's final slated for October 11.