WUHAN, China — World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is set to defend her title at next week’s Wuhan Open following a brief injury layoff but local hero Zheng Qinwen is out.
Sabalenka won her fourth Grand Slam crown in New York last month but missed this week’s China Open in Beijing with what she called a small injury.
The 27-year-old from Belarus is expected to return to action for the WTA 1000 event in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where she is the reigning champion and a three-time winner.
The main draw starts on Monday with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff also among the top seeds.
In a blow to the tournament and home hopes, local favourite and Olympic champion Zheng pulled out on Friday having recently returned from elbow surgery.
The Chinese world No 9, who considers Wuhan her hometown, retired from her last-32 match at the China Open on Monday.
Zheng, runner-up to Sabalenka last year, said in a video: “Unfortunately my body has not returned to its best condition.
“After discussing with doctors and my team, I regretfully and unfortunately withdrew from this year’s Wuhan Open,” Sabalenka added according to AFP.
“I’m very grateful for the support from all tennis fans, especially those from my hometown.”
Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev defied a foot problem to book his place in the third round of the Shanghai Masters, beating France’s Valentin Royer 6-4, 6-4.
The world No 3 from Germany had a blistering start, breaking Royer in the first game and then hitting three aces to easily hold the second.
The play settled as the Frenchman found his feet, but a crucial stumble saw him miss a break point in the eighth game, and Zverev took the set.
Both players missed chances to break in the second, wowing the crowd with multiple tense rallies.
Zverev finally broke in the ninth game then held the last game to win, despite having to take a medical break after limping off court.
“It’s not a nice feeling to finish a match like that,” Zverev said afterwards, wincing.
“I’m happy to be through in two sets and I’ll keep fighting through.”
World No 7 Alex de Minaur is through to the next round after comfortably dispatching Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-4, 6-2.
But Russia’s Andrey Rublev, ranked 14th in the world, was upset by qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Novak Djokovic said he had to “fire up all engines” as he overcame a stodgy first set to reach the third round of the Shanghai Masters, beating fellow veteran Marin Cilic 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
The 38-year-old Serb is aiming for a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai, where he was greeted by rapturous cheers as he entered a stadium packed with adoring Chinese fans.
The combined age of Djokovic and Cilic – 75 years and 139 days – was the oldest ever between two opponents in an ATP Masters 1000 main draw match.
“I did enjoy it, but I also suffered a lot on the court,” said Djokovic.
“It was a very close match. He was probably the better player for the first set,” he added, saying he needed to “fire up all engines”.
The first set was hard-fought, with 94th-ranked Cilic’s best chance to break the 24-time Grand Slam champion coming but going in the 11th game.
