As the WTA Finals approach, set to commence on November 1st in Riyadh, two British players, Katie Boulter and Fran Jones, are making their presence felt at WTA 250 events this week. Boulter is competing in Hong Kong while Jones is in Chennai, India, with both tournaments marking the final opportunities for players to score points before the season concludes.
At the WTA 250 Prudential Hong Kong Open, Belinda Bencic, a recent title winner in Tokyo, and Leylah Fernandez, the champion in Osaka, are leading a draw of 32 players on the outdoor hard courts at Victoria Park. Among the other notable seeds are Victoria Mboko, Sofia Kenin, and Sorana Cirstea. Rising talent Alex Eala is set to clash with Boulter in the opening round, making it an intriguing match to watch.
Bencic, seeded first and ranked 13th in the world, will face Aliaksandra Sasnovich, while Fernandez, seeded second, is scheduled to play against Wang Xiyu. On the tournament’s opening day, only a handful of matches were completed. Ajla Tomljanovic had a challenging encounter but ultimately prevailed against qualifier Momoko Kobori with a score of 7-5, 6-2. Meanwhile, Eva Lys notched a win over Kristiana Sidorova, recovering from early setbacks to win 6-0, 6-3.
In Chennai, the WTA 250 Chennai Open is seeing its second edition, which is especially notable as it is the first WTA tournament in India since 2022. Top-seeded Zeynap Sonmez and second-seeded Fran Jones, both hovering just outside the top 70 in the world rankings, are expected to compete fiercely for the title. Sonmez voiced her ambition, expressing a desire to perform her best despite the pressure that comes with being a top seed.
The event has suffered from several early withdrawals, including significant names like Lois Boisson and Tatjana Maria, leaving the field without representation from the top 30 players. Defending champion Linda Fruhvirtova is looking to reclaim her title but, without the doubles champions Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani in contention this year, the competition remains open.
Finally, at the WTA 250 Jiangxi Open in China, Ann Li, the latest titleholder from Guangzhou, emerges as the top seed as the tournament unfolds at the Jiujiang International Tennis Center. The competition features 32 singles players vying for 250 ranking points. On the first day of play, fourth seed Polina Kudermetova had to retire early, granting Tamara Korpatsch a straightforward advance into the next round. Multiple matches showcased emerging talents and some surprises, as players poised themselves for advancement in this crucial late-season competition.
As the events in Hong Kong, Chennai, and Jiangxi unfold, the focus on rising talents and established players alike will provide compelling narratives as they gear up for the WTA Finals.
