The second day of the 2025 China Open in Beijing witnessed an exciting start as British players Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter both advanced to the second round of this prestigious WTA 1000 event. Kartal delivered a strong performance, defeating American competitor Alycia Parks with a convincing score of 6-3, 6-2. This victory sets her up for a challenging encounter with Australian Daria Kasatkina, who is the tournament’s 14th seed.
The tournament has significance for Boulter as she aims to improve upon her performance from the previous year, where she reached the second round after a first-round win against Taylor Townsend but fell to eventual champion Coco Gauff. Boulter’s form looks promising as the British No. 2 continues her quest to build momentum during her Asian swing.
In notable news, Emma Raducanu, the No. 30 seed in this event, learned her first opponent would be Cristina Bucsa, a qualifier from Spain. Bucsa secured her spot in the first round with a solid 6-2, 6-4 victory over Croatian player Donna Vekic. Raducanu, hoping to make a significant return after withdrawing last year due to injury, could potentially face World No. 7 Jessica Pegula in the third round if she progresses.
Among the highlights of Thursday’s matches, Chinese wild-card Yuan Yue celebrated a significant win over Yulia Putintseva, booking her place in the second round to challenge top seed Iga Swiatek. This triumph adds excitement to the early rounds of the tournament as she works to make an impact on home soil.
As the tournament continues, German qualifier Ella Seidel achieved a notable upset against Magdalena Frech, winning 7-5, 6-4. With this victory, she improved her confidence heading into a competitive match-up. Meanwhile, Zhu Lin, another Chinese wild-card, attained her first win in Beijing since 2014, defeating Moyuka Uchijima 6-1, 6-3.
A thrilling match unfolded between Camila Osorio from Colombia and American Ann Li, where Osorio prevailed in a dramatic three-set encounter that lasted over three hours. The match showcased her tenacity, as she came back from a set down. Osorio’s victory sets up a meeting with Anna Kalinskaya, the No. 28 seed.
Other notable results included Ajla Tomljanovic’s resilient victory, overcoming an early setback against Yuliia Starodubtseva, and Elena-Gabriela Ruse’s convincing win against Rebecca Sramkova. Both players will seek to carry this momentum into their next matches.
The day also brought unfortunate news concerning Taylor Townsend, who withdrew from the tournament following comments made during the Billie Jean King Cup Finals regarding local cuisine. Her absence will leave a gap in the doubles competition, where she was expected to partner with Czech player Katerina Siniakova.
As the tournament progresses, the arrival of the top seeds sets the stage for a thrilling continuation in Beijing, with eyes on defending champion Coco Gauff, who is treating this competition as a pre-season preparation for the upcoming year. Despite the pressure of defending her title, Gauff remains focused on building a successful foundation for her future matches.
