Rybakina has withdrawn
On 4 October the Wuhan Open announced that Elena Rybakina will not play in Wuhan because of injury. The decision came a day after her second-round loss to Alina Charaeva at the China Open. In an Instagram story Rybakina apologised to the fans and said she would take some time to rest and recover. According to the WTA, her next scheduled event is the WTA 500 in Ningbo, where she defends her 2025 title.
About the tournament
The Wuhan Open is a WTA 1000 event in Wuhan, in the central province of Hubei. In 2026 it runs from 12 to 18 October, straight after the China Open. The draw has 56 players and the surface is hard. Matches are played at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre: seven courts, with a Central Court stadium holding up to 15,000 spectators. The champion earns 1000 ranking points.
After a four-year break Wuhan returned to the calendar in 2024, and the first edition after the pause went to Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Zheng Qinwen in the final. Beijing lasts almost two weeks and Wuhan starts the day after its final, so players who go deep in Beijing get only days to travel and recover.
Rybakina in Wuhan
| Year | Result | How it went |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Did not play | Missed the entire Asian swing with a back injury. |
| 2025 | Quarterfinal | Beat Jaqueline Cristian and Linda Nosková, then lost to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. |
For Rybakina, Wuhan so far is a tournament with a single line of history. The 2025 quarterfinal means there are few points to defend here, and the player she lost to then is her main rival in the rankings.
What is at stake
Wuhan is the second top-tier event in a row after Beijing, and together they offer up to 2000 points. For the world No. 1 it is a chance to extend her lead before she starts defending last year's titles in Ningbo and at the WTA Finals. Her main rival for the top spot, Aryna Sabalenka, is the 2024 champion here - another reason Wuhan matters in the autumn race. How points turn into ranking positions is explained on the WTA ranking page, and the rivalry is covered on the Rybakina vs Sabalenka page.
Match times
Wuhan, like all of China, is on UTC+8: three hours ahead of Astana and seven ahead of London until British Summer Time ends on 25 October. Evening matches at 7:00 p.m. local time begin at 4:00 p.m. in Astana; day matches fall in the Kazakh morning and lunchtime.
| Wuhan | Astana | London |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 | 09:00 | 05:00 |
| 15:00 | 12:00 | 08:00 |
| 19:00 | 16:00 | 12:00 |
The rest of the season
Wuhan sits in the middle of the autumn swing: Beijing before it, Ningbo and the WTA Finals after.
| Tournament | Category | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billie Jean King Cup - Finals Entry confirmed Shenzhen, China | Team event (BJK Cup) hard | September 22–27 | Kazakhstan reached the Finals by beating Canada 3-1 in qualifying, but on 23 September, without Elena Rybakina, they lost to Spain 1-2 in the quarterfinals. Rybakina did not travel to Shenzhen: on 18 September she announced her withdrawal with a left ankle injury. Kazakhstan were represented by Yulia Putintseva, Anna Danilina, Zhibek Kulambayeva and Sonja Zhiyenbayeva; Putintseva won the only point. |
| Wuhan Open Wuhan, China | WTA 1000 hard | October 12–18 | On 4 October Rybakina withdrew from the tournament with injury, a day after her second-round loss at the China Open. In 2025 she reached the quarterfinals in Wuhan. The WTA 1000 event will go ahead without her; her next scheduled event is Ningbo. |
| WTA Finals Defending title Indian Wells, United States | WTA Finals hard | November 8–15 | The season-ending event for the top eight has moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells. Rybakina is the defending champion: she beat Aryna Sabalenka 6–3, 7–6(0) in the 2025 final. Her place among the eight for 2026 was already secured with the ranking update on 14 September. |
Asian swing dates follow the standard WTA calendar and are confirmed by organisers. Top players enter shortly before each event - the status column is updated as official announcements appear.
Where to watch and how not to miss it
The list of legal broadcasters is on the where to watch page. Subscribe to the match calendar: once the organisers publish the order of play, Rybakina's match appears in it with a reminder 30 minutes before the start.
Do not miss the match
The next match has not been scheduled yet. Subscribe to the calendar and it will appear there as soon as the organisers publish the order of play.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Wuhan Open?
From 12 to 18 October 2026 in Wuhan, straight after the China Open.
Is Rybakina playing the 2026 Wuhan Open?
No. On 4 October she withdrew with injury. Her next scheduled event is Ningbo (19–25 October).
What is Rybakina's best result in Wuhan?
The 2025 quarterfinal, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka.
How many points does the Wuhan Open champion get?
1000 ranking points - it is a WTA 1000 event.
What time are Wuhan matches in Astana?
Wuhan is three hours ahead of Astana: a 7:00 p.m. local start is 4:00 p.m. in Astana.