Reigning champ Aryna Sabalenka declared world No.1 by iga Swiatek- Will She defend her title at the Wuhan Open?

The Wuhan Open is back after a five-year absence – and Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to complete an elongated ‘threepeat’ at the WTA 1000 event.

World No 2 Sabalenka won the title the last two times the tournament was held, defeating Anett Kontaveit in the 2018 final and Alison Riske a year later.

Since then, the tournament has not been held due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the WTA’s shortlived boycott of China.

However, a decade on from the first staging of the tournament, the best in the women’s game will return to the city after a five-year absence.

Now an elite force in the women’s game, three-time Slam champion Sabalenka will fancy her chances of sealing her third title at the WTA 1000 tournament.

However, she will face stiff competition in the form of world No 1 Iga Swiatek.

The Pole has never played the tournament, being too low-ranked to play in 2019, and makes her tournament debut as the best player in the world – and as a five-time major winner.