Iga Swiatek is returning to Beijing after missing last year's tournament due to a provisional doping suspension, and the Pole has learned her possible path to winning the China Open.
Since Aryna Sabalenka is absent, world No. 2 Swiatek is the top seed in Beijing this year, and after a first-round bye, the Pole will likely clash against world No. 63 Yulia Putintseva. The first potential challenges for the No. 1 seed could come in the third and fourth rounds, where she is projected to meet No. 28 seed Anna Kalinskaya and 16th-seeded Emma Navarro, respectively.
In the China Open quarterfinal, the Polish tennis star could very easily stumble upon fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula or US Open semifinalist Naomi Osaka. The projected semifinal of the top half of Beijing sees the Pole taking on No. 4 seed Mirra Andreeva. It is worth mentioning that seventh-seeded home star Zheng Qinwen is in the same part of the draw.
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If the two top seeds reach the China Open final, it will be a Swiatek and Coco Gauff showdown for the title.
Confident Swiatek will look to win her second Beijing title
In her China Open debut in 2023, Swiatek made it all the way. As mentioned above, she was unable to defend her title last year.
Meanwhile, the Pole definitely isn't lacking any confidence at the start of the China Open, having won last week's tournament in Seoul. On Sunday, the 24-year-old beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 1-6 7-6 (3) 7-5 in a thriller Seoul final.
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I want to congratulate Ekaterina for an amazing week and amazing final. I dont know how I won it, honestly. You were just playing great. I was just trying to stay alive," the new 25-time WTA champion said.
It remains to be seen if Swiatek can also win the China Open and lift back-to-back titles for the first time this season.
