2025 Wuhan Open

The 2025 Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open was a women’s tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 8th edition of the Wuhan Open and a WTA 1000 event on the 2025 WTA Tour. The tournament took place at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre in Wuhan, Hubei, China, from October 6 to 12, 2025.¹“Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open 2025 Overview”. wtatennis.com. Retrieved 15 August 2025.

Coco Gauff clinched the 2025 Wuhan Open singles title with a straight-sets victory over fellow American Jessica Pegula in the final, prevailing 6–4, 7–5. This victory marked Gauff’s third WTA 1000 title and her eleventh singles title overall on the WTA Tour. Impressively, Gauff did not drop a single set throughout the entire tournament.

The tournament saw a notable upset in the semifinals where Pegula ended the dominant run of three-time defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka’s loss, though, broke her incredible 20-match winning streak at the Wuhan Open, which began with her debut in 2018. Despite the semi-final exit, by reaching that stage, Sabalenka secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking for the second consecutive year.

The 2025 edition was historic, as it was the first time all four semifinalists were ranked inside the WTA’s top 10. Following the tournament’s conclusion, Ekaterina Alexandrova debuted in the WTA rankings top 10, becoming the third-oldest woman to achieve the feat.

In the doubles competition, the unseeded team of Storm Hunter and Kateřina Siniaková defeated defending champion Anna Danilina and her partner Aleksandra Krunić in a straightforward final, 6–3, 6–2, to take the title.

The previous year’s champions, Danilina and Irina Khromacheva, chose not to play together this year. Khromacheva partnered with Aldila Sutjiadi but suffered a first-round defeat to Leylah Fernandez and Erin Routliffe.

Siniaková maintained her hold on the WTA No. 1 doubles ranking after her run to the semifinals. Taylor Townsend and Routliffe were the other players who had a chance to claim the top spot at the start of the event.

Champions

Tournament Details

Tournament Links

Tournament History

The Wuhan Open, though a relatively young tournament on the WTA calendar, has carved out a significant and dramatic history since its inception. Founded in 2014, it was established with immediate prestige as a WTA Premier 5 event (now categorized as WTA 1000), a testament to China’s growing influence in the world of tennis and the WTA’s strategy to deepen its roots in the Asian market. Its creation was part of a strategic expansion of the Asian swing, designed to create a powerful lead-in series to the China Open in Beijing.

The tournament was held from 2014 to 2019 at the state-of-the-art Optics Valley International Tennis Center in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. This was a fitting location, as Wuhan is the birthplace of Li Na, China’s first Grand Slam singles champion and a global tennis icon. The tournament cleverly leveraged her legacy, and Li Na herself served as the tournament ambassador, lending her immense popularity to ensure its instant credibility and fan appeal.

The early editions of the Wuhan Open were marked by spectacular success and high-quality tennis. Its debut in 2014 saw Petra Kvitova claim the title, defeating an impressive field. This set the tone for the event to become a mandatory stop for the world’s top players. The list of champions reads like a who’s who of women’s tennis, including Venus Williams (2015), Caroline Wozniacki (2018), and Aryna Sabalenka (2018 & 2019). The tournament quickly gained a reputation for its excellent organization, passionate crowds, and world-class facilities, particularly its striking center court with a petal-like roof.

However, the tournament’s trajectory was abruptly halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus first emerged in Wuhan in late 2019, leading to the city’s strict lockdown in early 2020. Unsurprisingly, the 2020 edition was cancelled, as were many tournaments worldwide. Unlike other events, the Wuhan Open remained off the calendar for an extended period due to the unique circumstances of its origin city and China’s subsequent strict zero-COVID policy, which prevented international sporting events from returning. This resulted in a four-year hiatus from 2020 to 2023.

The tournament’s return in September 2024 was a momentous occasion, symbolizing a return to normalcy for the city of Wuhan and the WTA’s full-scale return to China after a prolonged absence. Its re-entry onto the calendar retained its elite WTA 1000 status, cementing its position as one of the most important tournaments in the world, second only to the Grand Slams and the WTA Finals. The 2024 event served as a critical proving ground for players ahead of the China Open and was a powerful symbol of the sport’s global reunification.

In summary, the history of the Wuhan Open is a tale of two distinct chapters: its meteoric rise (2014-2019) as a beloved and successful event built on the legacy of Li Na, followed by an unexpected and prolonged hiatus (2020-2023) due to a global pandemic that began at its doorstep. Its successful return in 2024 marks a new chapter, reaffirming its vital role as a premier stop on the WTA Tour and a cornerstone of the Asian swing.

The Venue: Optics Valley International Tennis Center

Nestled in the heart of Wuhan’s burgeoning East Lake High-Tech Development Zone, the Optics Valley International Tennis Center stands as a premier sporting venue and a cathedral for tennis enthusiasts in central China. Far more than just a collection of courts, it is a modern, architecturally striking complex designed to host world-class events and foster a deep passion for the sport. It is most famously the permanent home of the Wuhan Open, a prestigious WTA 1000 tournament that attracts the absolute elite of women’s tennis every September, transforming the city into a global sporting destination.

The center’s crown jewel is its magnificent 5,000-seat stadium court, renowned for its distinctive petal-shaped roof. This elegant, flowing design is not merely aesthetic; it symbolizes the city’s nickname, “the City of Rivers,” and represents the dynamic energy of both Wuhan and the sport itself. The arena provides an intimate yet electrifying atmosphere for spectators, ensuring superb sightlines and an immersive experience. Beyond the main stadium, the facility boasts a comprehensive array of 15 additional outdoor hard courts, including a secondary stadium with a capacity of 1,500, which are used for qualifying matches and practice sessions.

During tournament time, the center buzzes with a festival-like energy, featuring fan zones, gourmet food stalls, and interactive activities. However, its role extends beyond this single annual event. As a year-round public facility, it serves as a vital hub for nurturing local talent, hosting national tournaments, and promoting grassroots tennis development. The Optics Valley International Tennis Center is a powerful symbol of Wuhan’s modernity and its commitment to health, international culture, and high-tech excellence, solidifying its status as a key pillar of China’s impressive tennis infrastructure.