Sep 6, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Aryna Sabalenka looks on in the women's singles final against Amanda Anisimova (USA) (not pictured) of the 2025 US Open tennis championships at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

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Aryna Sabalenka Injury Update – Why Has Aryna Sabalenka Withdrawn From China Open 2025?

Four-time Grand Slam champ suffers setback after US Open title retention.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the upcoming China Open 2025 due to a minor injury. The 27-year-old was initially slated to feature in Beijing, but her post-US Open run has now hit a small roadblock. The Belarusian powerhouse was crowned champion in New York, and will be defending a wide range of points during the end of the campaign. With a battle for year-end No. 1 against Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff on the cards, Sabalenka and co. will be hoping for a speedy recovery.

The 2025 season has been filled with ups and downs for Sabalenka – after winning the Brisbane International, she suffered a heartbreaking defeat vs Madison Keys in the Australian Open final. Sabalenka then reached the final at Indian Wells, before going one step further to become the queen of Miami. This was followed by a Madrid Open triumph on clay, before Coco Gauff exacted revenge by beating the top seed in the Roland Garros summit clash.

In September, Sabalenka broke her lean patch of four months without a title by capturing the coveted US Open 2025 trophy. In the process, she became a four-time Grand Slam champion and tightened her grip on the top ranking. Sabalenka was a quarterfinalist in Beijing last year – she lost 6-7(5) 6-2 4-6 against Karolina Muchova.

A Muchova MASTERCLASS 🎓@karomuchova7 snaps Sabalenka's 15-match win streak to reach the Beijing semifinals!#ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/Nmk3Ogua47
— wta (@WTA) October 4, 2024

Aryna Sabalenka Suffers Minor Injury, Provides Update

There is no doubt that Aryna Sabalenka is one of the fittest athletes on the women’s circuit. Seldom do we get to see the Belarusian facing an injury lay-off on tour. On Wednesday, the China Open tournament organizers announced that an injury suffered during Flushing Meadows has forced the WTA World No. 1 out of this year’s event. However, she remains focused on a quick return.

Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the 2025 China Open due to a minor injury.
We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming her back in Beijing.#2025ChinaOpen
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) September 17, 2025

“Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the 2025 China Open due to a minor injury,” read the official statement. “We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming her back in Beijing.” The three-time China Open quarterfinalist (2018, 2023, 2024) also expressed her sorrow for having to skip the competition.

“I am sad to announce my withdrawal from the China Open this year after sustaining a small injury after the US Open,” read her announcement. “I am going to focus on being 100% healthy for the rest of the year.” Although the nature and extent of Sabalenka’s injury is unclear, it is a precautionary measure – considering she is the defending champion at the upcoming Wuhan Open.

World No. 3 Coco Gauff is the reigning champion at the 2025 China Open in Beijing, which is set to take place between September 24 and October 5.

(Image Credits: Geoff Burke, Imagn Images)

Aryna Sabalenka

China Open

Coco Gauff

Iga Swiatek

Tennis

US Open 2025

WTA

Wuhan Open

Sankalp Harikrishnan

A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.