Finally, the big day has arrived. Excitement is in the air as the action kicks off on the hard courts of Beijing’s iconic China National Tennis Center. Running from September 24 to October 5, the 12-day tournament brings together the world’s best players in pursuit of glory. With defending champion Coco Gauff among the top seeds, the draw features 96 singles players and 32 doubles teams, along with a prize purse of $8.96 million, and 1000 ranking points. So who are the other WTA players slated to compete in Beijing?

At the front of the field is six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, joined by Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, and Chinese star Zheng Qinwen, who returns after Wimbledon. They’ll be joined by Elena Rybakina, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Clara Tauson, adding even more depth to an already loaded lineup. But the star power doesn’t end there.

Paula Badosa makes her long-awaited return, while Montreal champion Victoria Mboko are also in the spotlight. The field is further packed with former Grand Slam champions, including Jelena Ostapenko, Sofia Kenin, Emma Raducanu, Bianca Andreescu, and Barbora Krejcikova. With so many top names in the mix, the big question now is, just how much cash incentives will the winners take home? Let’s take a look.

How big is the WTA Beijing 2025 prize pool?

In case you already didn’t know, WTA Beijing, which will be broadcasted worldwide across a wide range of networks, has $8,963,700 in prize money up for grabs, the fourth-richest purse among the 10 WTA 1000 stops, trailing only Madrid, Miami, and Indian Wells. The champion will walk away with more than $1 million and 1,000 valuable ranking points. Here’s a look at how the prize money and points break down in the singles draw.

WTA Beijing singles purse evolution: 2024 compared to 2025

Unlike the US Open 2025, which saw a hefty 20% boost to its overall purse, WTA Beijing 2025 didn’t deliver quite that kind of jump, but the increase was still generous. So how much did the prize money actually rise from last year?

The WTA Beijing continues to show its commitment to rewarding players, ensuring their hard work on court is recognized with solid compensation. While the prize money increase may not be as dramatic as other events, it doesn’t take away from the tournament’s spark or prestige. Why, you ask?

After defending Naomi Osaka, Paula Badosa, and then Karolina Muchova, who is also back in the field this year, in the final to become just the second American, after Serena Williams, to capture the China Open title, Coco Gauff returns as the defending singles champion in Beijing. But can the USTA Clay Court National 12-and-under champion repeat in China?

The challenge is clear, especially since Gauff isn’t entering the Asian swing in peak form. She fell to Osaka in the US Open’s Round of 16 and continues to search for consistency in her serve. Now working with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan in her second tournament, it will be interesting to see whether her service game finds the stability she needs to contend. But that’s not the only storyline to follow.

Iga Swiatek, the 2023 champion, is also back, as is Osaka, who lifted the trophy in 2019. Adding depth to the field are Jasmine Paolini and her countrywoman Sara Errani, who won the US Open mixed doubles title last year and this year. Of course, eyes will be on what Coco Gauff brings to the table, but what are your thoughts on the prize money?