Aryna Sabalenka has postponed her return to the WTA Tour after withdrawing from the China Open.
Sabalenka won the US Open in her last tournament, after beating American Amanda Anisimova in the final to defend her title.
The Belarusian is now a four-time Grand Slam champion, with Sabalenka equalling the likes of Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, alongside many other great players.
Sabalenka was next scheduled to compete at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing, but she has now pulled out and released a statement.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesAryna Sabalenka releases statement after China Open withdrawal
The China Open was set to get underway in a week’s time in Beijing, with all of the top WTA players competing in the 1000 level tournament.
However, the tournament has now lost the world number one in Sabalenka, subsequently releasing her statement confirming the real reason for her withdrawal on Chinese social media outlet Weibo.
“Hello everyone, due to an injury sustained during the US Open and the ongoing recovery process, I regretfully announce that I will withdraw from this year’s China Open,” said Sabalenka.
“I will focus on my recovery and strive to return to 100% condition as soon as possible. I can’t wait to see my fans in China! I look forward to returning to Beijing next year and wish you all the best for your tournament.”
Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the 2025 China Open due to a minor injury.
We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming her back in Beijing.#2025ChinaOpen— China Open (@ChinaOpen) September 17, 2025
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While it is absolutely plausible that Sabalenka could have picked up some physical issues during the busy North American hard court schedule, it is also completely understandable if she just felt she needed another week to recover.
The next tournament that the 27-year-old is scheduled to play is at the Wuhan Open, where Sabalenka is the three-time defending champion, and it may be important for her to play there.
Iga Swiatek now has an opportunity after Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawal
Sabalenka has been the world number one for nearly a year now, and she currently has a 3,292 point lead over her closest rival Iga Swiatek.
However, the battle between those two is actually closer than it seems, and Sabalenka has been warned her number one ranking could be at risk.
This feels especially prevalent now, with Sabalenka set to drop 215 ranking points from reaching the China Open quarterfinals last year.
With Swiatek missing the entire Asian swing last year, she now has an opportunity to make lots of ground on Sabalenka.
The Pole is 2,077 points behind Sabalenka in the WTA race, which only tracks points earned this year, and could close that gap to within 600 points if she wins her next two tournaments in Seoul and Beijing.
However, Swiatek is yet to take to the court yet in the Korean capital, with rain continually disrupting play at the WTA 500 tournament.