The WTA Wuhan Open will return in autumn this year, the organizers announced on Wednesday.
As one of the WTA 1000 tournaments, the event is returning to the capital of central China’s Hubei Province for the first time since 2019. The city is home to China’s two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na and the current highest-ranked female players, world No. 8 Zheng Qinwen, who achieved a career-high of 7th place after reaching the first Grand Slam final in her career at the Australian Open in January.
“The Wuhan Open has crowned many iconic champions since the inaugural event was held in 2014, including Venus Williams, Petra Kvitova and reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka,” said Steve Simon, WTA chairman and CEO. “We are excited to now write another chapter of the tournament’s history in 2024.”
This year’s main draw will feature 56 players, including eight qualifiers out of 32.
The Wuhan Open is one of the three highest level tennis tournaments staged in China, the other two being the China Open, at level 500 for ATP players and 1000 for female players, and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters.
The tournament will take place from October 7 to 13 at the roofed Optics Valley International Tennis Center with a seating capacity of 13,000.