World number 20 Wang Qiang will be the top Chinese player in the line-up of the Shenzhen Open next January. The field also features Zheng Saisai and Zhang Shuai, who are ranked inside the top 40, and world number 70 Wang Yafan. The four Chinese players will face a very tough field led by former Grand Slam champions Maria Sharapova and Jelena Ostapenko, last year’s top 10 Caroline Garcia, world number 13 Aryna Sabalenka, who is the highest ranked player in the field and won the biggest tournament of her career in Wuhan last September, clinched the title at the Connecticut Cup in New Haven and reached the semifinal in Cincinnati.
During the 2018 season Wang won two WTA International tournaments in Nanchang and Guangzhou and became the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals in Wuhan. The following week she beat Jelena Ostapenko, Karolina Pliskova and Aryna Sabalenka en route to reaching the semifinals in Beijing before losing to former world number 1 Caroline Wozniacki. In Hong Kong the Chinese player rallied from 1-4 down in the third set to beat Garbine Muguruza in the semifinal en route to reaching the final, where she lost to 18-year-old Ukrainian player Dayana Yastremska. At the 2018 WTA Elite Trophy she lost to Daria Kasatkina in three sets and beat Madison Keys in three sets 1-6 6-3 6-1, but she failed to qualify for the semifinal.
In Shenzhen Wang will be looking to follow in the footsteps of her illustrious compatriot Li Na, who won the first two editions of this tournament.
“This is fantastic for tennis in China to see so many Chinese players in the main draw. In 2013 and 2014 Li Na won our first two tournaments. Maybe one of those two ladies will join her on the honour role in 2019. It is very exciting for the fans to be able to cheer on players from their own nation and we look forward to a great atmosphere around the courts. One young player is sure to attact plenty of attention and this is Aryna Sabalenka, the 20-year-old player, who has enjoyed a stunning season on the WTA season”, said Tournament Director Luiz Carvalho.
