Aryna Sabalenka has taken a well-deserved break after a grueling season and her US Open title defense. And now, she is already set to return to action at the WTA 1000 Wuhan 2025, which begins on Monday, October 6. The event carries major significance for her, as she looks to strengthen her bid for the year-end World No. 1 ranking, holding a 1,457-point lead over her closest rival, Iga Swiatek, in the Race standings.

Just hours ago, The Tennis Letter shared a video on X showing Sabalenka’s arrival in Wuhan, captioned, “Aryna Sabalenka has arrived in Wuhan. This will be her first tournament since she defended the U.S. Open title. Can’t wait to see the world #1 back on a tennis court. 🐅❤️” With only days left before the Wuhan Open kicks off, the 27-year-old heads the 56-player singles draw, joined by the rest of the top 10 in the PIF WTA Rankings: Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova, Mirra Andreeva, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini, Qinwen Zheng (scheduled to return in Beijing later this month), and Elena Rybakina.

As a three-time champion in Wuhan, Aryna Sabalenka enters this year’s event with a rich history at the tournament. She captured the title in 2024 by defeating Qinwen Zheng in the final, and earlier triumphed in 2018 and 2019, the last editions held before the tournament’s return. In 2019, she overcame American Alison Riske for the trophy, while in 2018, she claimed victory against Anett Kontaveit. With that track record, Sabalenka is aiming to repeat her success once again.

In case you don’t remember, at this year’s US Open, Aryna Sabalenka faced immense pressure in the final against Amanda Anisimova. Yet, by defeating the American, she became the first woman in 11 years to win back-to-back US Open singles titles. If that wasn’t enough, she also became the first woman since Serena Williams to reach consecutive US Open finals, each against a different opponent. On top of that, Sabalenka’s triumph marked her 100th career main-draw win at a Grand Slam. But can she bring the same fire to the court this time around?

The tennis calendar is demanding, forcing players through a relentless stretch of the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in less than three months. And for ‘The Tiger’, who has been the standout performer of the season, that pressure has been even greater as she battles to stay at the top of the rankings. Now, as the Belarusian star readies herself for the Wuhan Open, it is worth noting that she recently withdrew from the China Open following a concerning injury admission after the US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka hits pause to return stronger than ever

As the World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has officially withdrawn from the 2025 China Open, scheduled to run from September 24 to October 5, in a heartfelt message, the Belarusian star explained, “Hi all – I am sad to announce my withdrawal from the China Open this year after sustaining a small injury after the US Open. I am going to focus on being 100% healthy for the rest of the year and I can’t wait to see my Chinese fans soon! I look forward to returning to Beijing next year and wish the tournament good luck.”

However, this isn’t the first time Sabalenka has stepped away from competition to safeguard her form. Before her US Open triumph over Amanda Anisimova, she pulled out of the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal, citing fatigue as the reason.

After a stellar season that featured runner-up finishes at the Australian and French Opens, semifinal runs at Wimbledon and Berlin, and titles in Madrid and Miami, Sabalenka opted to prioritize her long-term performance. “I’m looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I’ve decided it’s in my best interest to skip Montreal,” she explained at the time.

She also expressed regret for not being able to meet her fans in Canada. “I’ll miss my amazing Canadian fans, but I’m already looking forward to seeing you all next year,” Sabalenka said. “Thanks for your understanding and support — it means the world to me.”

Ultimately, tournament director Valerie Tetreault acknowledged the disappointment surrounding her absence, stating, “We’re obviously disappointed that Aryna won’t be with us this year.” The withdrawal highlighted the physical demands and strain that even the top players face, moving through back-to-back tournaments and high-pressure matches. Will Aryna Sabalenka’s careful management of her schedule help her stay dominant through the rest of the season? What do you think?