The 2026 season is in its final stretch, with the China Open serving as the second-to-last WTA 1000 event of the year.<\/p>\n
In Beijing, several WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz stars, including World No. 1 Elena Rybakina, will make their first appearances since the US Open.<\/p>\n
Here is everything to know about this year\u2019s China Open.<\/p>\n
What are the dates for each round?<\/p>\n
Main-draw play begins Wednesday, Sept. 30, and concludes Sunday, Oct. 11. The doubles final is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. local time, followed by the singles final, not before 7 p.m.<\/p>\n
Time conversions: 7 p.m. China Standard Time = 7 a.m. EST, 12 p.m. BST, 1 p.m. CEST<\/p>\n
Here are the dates for each round:<\/p>\n
Singles
First round: September 30-October 1
Second round: October 2-3
Third round: October 4-5
Fourth round: October 6-7
Quarterfinals: October 8-9
Semifinals: October 10
Final: October 11<\/p>\n
Doubles
First round: October 4-5
Second round: October 6-7
Quarterfinals: October 8-9
Semifinals: October 10
Final: October 11<\/p>\n
What is the singles draw and who are some of the stars competing?<\/p>\n
Beijing features a 96-player singles draw, with the 32 seeds receiving first-round byes. It is the final WTA 1000 event of the season with a field of that size.<\/p>\n
All four US Open semifinalists are set to make their first tour appearances since their runs in New York. Fresh off her third Grand Slam title, Elena Rybakina leads the field, joined by Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula as the top four seeds.<\/p>\n
Gauff, the 2024 champion, is one of four past Beijing winners in the initial field, alongside defending champion Amanda Anisimova, 2023 winner Iga Swiatek and 2019 champion Naomi Osaka. Three former finalists also return: Linda Noskova (2025), Karolina Muchova (2024) and Liudmila Samsonova (2023).<\/p>\n
Alexandra Eala (schedule change), Victoria Mboko (ongoing knee injury) and Hailey Baptiste (ongoing injury) are among the players not competing in Beijing.<\/p>\n
Projected seeded players<\/p>\n
Elena Rybakina
\nAryna Sabalenka
\nJessica Pegula
\nCoco Gauff
\nMirra Andreeva
\nLinda Noskova
\nElina Svitolina
\nKarolina Muchova
\nIga Swiatek
\nMarta Kostyuk
\nAmanda Anisimova
\nBelinda Bencic\u00a0
\nIva Jovic
\nDiana Shnaider
\nSorana Cirstea
\nNaomi Osaka
\nElise Mertens\u00a0
\nJasmine Paolini
\nAnna Kalinskaya\u00a0
\nEmma Navarro
\nAnastasia Potapova
\nMaja Chwalinska
\nMarie Bouzkova
\nEkaterina Alexandrova
\nSara Bejlek\u00a0
\nAnn Li
\nDiane Parry
\nLeylah Fernandez
\nJelena Ostapenko
\nMaria Sakkari\u00a0
\nNikola Bartunkova
\nCristina Bucsa\u00a0<\/p>\n
Draw ceremony: The singles draw ceremony will be held on Monday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. local time.<\/p>\n
Singles wild cards:\u00a0Zheng Qinwen, Sun Xinran, Yuan Yue, Zhu Lin, Gao Xinyu, Shao Yushan, Lin Yujun, Qu Yihan<\/p>\n
Singles Withdrawals: Madison Keys (abdominal injury), McCartney Kessler (hip), Zhang Shuai (change of schedule), Karolina Pliskova (back), Emma Raducanu<\/p>\n
Moved in: Magda Linette, Maria Timofeeva, Paula Badosa, Aoi Ito, Sinja Kraus<\/p>\n
Next eight alternates: Kamilla Rakhimova, Polina Kudermetova, Eva Lys, Taylah Preston, Anastasia Zakharova, Alina Charaeva, Sofia Kenin, Dayana Yastremska<\/p>\n