Defending champion Jessica Pegula is among four current or former top-10 players who have withdrawn from the Korea Open, set to begin on September 16. Pegula, who recently reached her first Grand Slam final at the US Open, pulled out of the WTA 500 event in Seoul due to a rib injury.
Joining Pegula on the sidelines are former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who is dealing with a back injury, US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro, who withdrew due to a schedule change, and 2014 Korea Open champion Karolina Pliskova, sidelined by a foot injury.
Rybakina’s injury woes began at the US Open, where she was forced to withdraw before her second-round match against Jessica Ponchet. Meanwhile, Pliskova struggled in her second-round match against Jasmine Paolini, eventually losing three match points. The former World No. 1 has also confirmed her withdrawal from the China Open, scheduled to start on September 25.
Tournament Field Update: New Entries and Key Contenders for the Seoul Open
Due to the withdrawal of these four players, and with no special exemptions utilized, five players have gained direct entry into the main draw. This group includes Zhang Shuai, Amanda Anisimova, Viktoriya Tomova, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. The next three alternates for the main draw are Tatjana Maria, Arantxa Rus, and Hailey Baptiste.
World No. 1 Iga Świątek remains the top seed in the Seoul Open field. Other notable players confirmed for the tournament include Daria Kasatkina, Diana Shnaider, Marta Kostyuk, Beatriz Haddad Maia, 2022 champion Ekaterina Alexandrova, and 2023 finalist Yuan Yue.
The withdrawal of key players has reshaped the tournament field, but the presence of Grand Slam champions and top-ranked contenders ensures that the Korea Open will remain a competitive and exciting event for tennis fans.
