On Day 4 at the China Open, Elena Rybakina begins life at World No. 1, with a U.S. Open title still fresh in her mind, as she opens her China Open run against Alina Charaeva. In the men’s draw, six-time China Open champion Novak Djokovic looks to avoid a Chinese upset and stay perfect in Beijing.
Rybakina has had a demanding year, winning titles at the Australian Open and U.S. Open while dealing with some fitness concerns heading into the final stretch of the season. After the U.S. Open, she took two weeks off for treatment and recovery, undergoing medical exams and missing last week’s Billie Jean King Cup.
Going into her first match in Beijing, Rybakina feels optimistic about her current form, despite a fatiguing year.
“Since I was resting, my foot was a bit better,” she said. “Now I’m back on the court, I still feel it here and there. I try to push myself, see how far I can go in this tournament.”
Rybakina is part of a star-studded group of players who had first-round byes and making their debuts Saturday in the 20th edition of the China Open.
No. 8 seed Iga Swiatek will face Chinese wildcard Gao Xinyu, who is fresh off a decisive first-round victory. Swiatek took the title in Beijing in 2023 but was upset last year in the Round of 16.
The world No. 9 has struggled with her consistency this year, failing to get past the quarterfinals at any slams. Currently in 10th in the race to the WTA Finals, Swiatek will need a dominant Asian Swing to earn her spot in the top eight.
Gao made China Open history in 2024, battling Sorribes Tormo for 4 hours, 15 minutes in the longest match in tournament history before falling in a marathon thriller. Now ranked No. 244 in the world, Gao will look to make more history by pulling off an upset in front of her home crowd.
Two other Chinese phenoms — Zheng Qinwen and Sun Xinran — will also continue their China Open campaigns on Saturday. The crowd favorites will take on No. 15 seed Anna Kalinskaya and No. 27 seed, Cristina Bucșa, respectively.
Also on the women’s side, 2024 China Open champion Coco Gauff begins her tournament run against Colombian Camila Osorio. Gauff, who is currently the World No. 4, will look to earn her second WTA 1000 title of the year after her victory in Cincinnati in August.
On the men’s side, another No. 1 seed will take the court on Saturday. Alexander Zverev is coming off a first-round victory Cam Norrie and will face China’s Shang Juncheng, who prevailed in a three-set battle over Argentina’s Sebastian Baez.
Zverev expressed excitement for his matchup against a Chinese player and the growth of tennis in China.
“It's very rare to play a Chinese player in China,” Zverev said. “I think it’s great for the fans, great for tennis”.
Other notable men’s matchups include Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo against No. 8 seed Jakub Mensik. Both players are hoping to build on their success this year, with Mensik winning a title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, and reaching the semifinals at the French Open. Cerúndolo won titles at the Argentina Open and the Queen’s Club Championship in London.
The two look to set up a quarterfinal battle with either Jan-Lennard Struff or Daniil Medvedev, who will also battle it out Saturday in Beijing. Struff upset Medvedev at Wimbledon this past year, but the Russian leads the head-to-head 8-2, having won all of their past hard-court matchups.
Also on Saturday, Russians Andrey Rublev and Roman Safiullin will face off in Beijing. Safiullin upset Rublev in a five-set thriller just a few months ago in the first round of Wimbledon. The winner would face either Alex de Minaur or Quentin Halys, who also play Saturday in Beijing.
By Maya Sabapathy
Weibo@ChinaOpen
WeChat Channel
Douyin@ChinaOpen
