China Open Beijing 2026: Sinner and Alcaraz touch down in Asia as main draw begins

Why this one matters

There is no pause in world tennis. Hours after Carlos Alcaraz struck the winning forehand to deliver Team Europe a 13-11 Laver Cup triumph over Team World in London, the sport’s greatest stars touched down in Beijing for the 2026 China Open at the National Tennis Center.

The China Open represents the premier stop of the autumn Asian hardcourt swing, featuring simultaneous ATP 500 and WTA 1000 tournaments. For world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Beijing provides the opportunity to defend his 2025 crown and protect his commanding lead at the top of the ATP rankings. For Alcaraz, riding the emotional high of his Laver Cup decider against Taylor Fritz, this tournament represents a direct duel for autumn supremacy.

Blockbuster WTA field at Diamond Court

The women’s draw at Diamond Court is equally ferocious. World No. 1 Elena Rybakina makes her first competitive appearance since capturing the US Open crown in New York, where she dismantled the draw with her signature serve.

Rybakina faces immediate competition from Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Chinese national hero Zheng Qinwen. Playing in front of 15,000 passionate home fans, Zheng has targeted Beijing as her signature autumn objective. With 1,000 ranking points available to the champion, the race for qualification to the WTA Finals in Riyadh is entering its most critical phase.

What to watch in the opening rounds

• ATP heavyweights: Sinner, Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and Andrey Rublev form the strongest 500-level draw of the season.
• WTA star power: Rybakina, Sabalenka, and Zheng lead a field featuring 18 of the world top 20 players.
• Surface conditions: Beijing’s outdoor hardcourts play medium-fast, rewarding aggressive first-strike tennis and powerful baseline rallies.
• Turin and Riyadh stakes: Crucial ranking points will finalize the eight-player fields for the year-end championships.