Aryna Sabalenka’s Injury Break and Wuhan Open Comeback
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has explained her recent break from tennis as a necessary recovery from a minor injury sustained during her triumphant US Open title defense in September 2025, prioritizing full fitness ahead of the season’s final push. The 27-year-old Belarusian, who skipped the China Open (September 24-October 5) to focus on healing, is set to make her competitive return at the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open starting October 6, where she aims to defend her title and solidify her year-end No. 1 ranking.
The Injury and Break Explanation
Sabalenka’s absence stemmed from a “small injury” picked up during her grueling US Open campaign, where she claimed her fourth Grand Slam title by defeating Amanda Anisimova in the final. In a statement announcing her China Open withdrawal on September 17, she elaborated: “I am sad to announce my withdrawal from the China Open this year after sustaining a small injury after the US Open. I will focus on my recovery and strive to return to 100% condition as soon as possible.” The break allowed her to train in Greece—home of her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis—combining recovery with practice to reset for the Asian swing’s end.
This strategic pause, roughly a month off-court, positions her for Wuhan—her first event since the US Open—while defending points and eyeing the WTA Finals in Riyadh (November 2-9). Sabalenka, with a 50-week streak at No. 1, leads Iga Świątek by 2,792 points but views Wuhan as crucial: “Between Wuhan and the Finals is like a three-week gap… If you don’t reach the last stages here, then you have a really bigger gap, which is not so good before the last tournament.”
Wuhan Open Comeback: A Favorite with History
As the top seed and three-time champion (2018, 2019, 2024), Sabalenka boasts a perfect 16-0 record at the event, including back-to-back three-set finals wins over Coco Gauff and Qinwen Zheng last year. She arrives after training clips shared from Greece, signaling readiness for a stacked draw featuring Świątek, Gauff, Anisimova, and Mirra Andreeva. A deep run could extend her Wuhan streak and prep her for high-intensity Finals matches.
| Tournament | Result | Notes |
|————|——–|——-|
| US Open 2025 | Champion | Fourth Grand Slam; injury occurred here. |
| China Open 2025 | Withdrew | Minor injury recovery. |
| Wuhan Open 2025 | Top Seed | Defending three-time champion; first post-break event. |
Reactions and Outlook
Fans welcomed her return on social media, with #SabalenkaWuhan trending: “Queen Aryna back—US Open champ rested and ready!” Analysts note the smart strategy: Skipping Beijing preserved her for Wuhan, where a title could widen her lead over Świątek (2,000 points behind). At 27, Sabalenka’s resilience—four Slams, nine WTA 1000s—positions her for Finals dominance, but the minor injury serves as a reminder of the tour’s physical demands.
