The 2024 Guangzhou Open will be played next week, and the prize money pot for the event has been unveiled.
This year’s Guangzhou Open, running from October 21st to 27th, marks 20 years since the first iteration of the tournament in 2004. Home favorite and two-time Grand Slam champion Li Na won the title that year, overcoming Martina Sucha.
Several other top players have won the event since, including 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, 2010 Wimbledon runner-up Vera Zvonareva, and 2008 US Open runner-up Jelena Jankovic.
Xiyu Wang is the defending Guangzhou Open champion. The 23-year-old dismantled Magda Linette 6-0, 6-2 to win her home tournament last year comprehensively. It remains the only WTA Tour title of her career.
Wang will return to defend her title after receiving a wild card. Yulia Putintseva, who had to apologize for her behavior toward a ball girl at the US Open, is one of the others on the entry list.
Some players have already withdrawn from the WTA-250 tournament. The most prominent of these was Emma Raducanu, who cannot play in Guangzhou due to an injury but she has not ended her season yet.
It should still be a great tournament. The players who compete in China have an opportunity to add a significant number of ranking points and prize money before 2024 is finished by going far.
The 2024 Guangzhou Open champion will receive 250 ranking points and $35,250. Diane Shanider is the only player to win multiple WTA-250 events in 2024, achieving this at the Thailand Open and Budapest Open.
163 ranking points and $20,830 will be given to the runner-up at this year’s iteration of the Guangzhou Open. Linette is on the entry list again, giving herself a chance to go a step further than in 2023.
Putintseva and Greet Minnen were the defeated semifinalists at the 2023 Guangzhou Open. After playing much impressive tennis throughout 2024, Putinsteva might see an ideal opportunity to claim the title this year.
The 2024 Guangzhou Open semifinalists will be awarded 98 ranking points and $11,610. 98 points could significantly affect many women on the entry list since WTA-250 tournaments often have many lower-ranked players.
This year’s quarterfinalists will not be as handsomely compensated for their efforts. However, those players are still set to have $6,608 added to their bank accounts, as well as 54 points to help their ranking.
The rewards for those who fall in the opening two rounds are even less significant. Winning one main draw match to reach the second round will earn players 30 points and $4,040 in prize money.
A scant one ranking point is on offer for those who lose in the opening round. But those players do at least have the guarantee of receiving $2,890 despite not winning any main draw matches in Guangzhou.
The 2024 Guangzhou Open will take place at the same time as the Japan Open in Tokyo, a WTA-500 level tournament. That gives fans a choice of two fascinating events to watch on the WTA Tour next week.
2024 Guangzhou Open Prize Money & Points Overview:
| Points | Prize Money | |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | 250 points | $35,250 |
| Finalist | 163 points | $20,830 |
| Semi-finalists | 98 points | $11,610 |
| Quarter-finalists | 54 points | $6,608 |
| 2nd round | 30 points | $4,040 |
| 1st round | 1 point | $2,890 |
