Swiatek, Gauff, Zheng… The enticing draw for the WTA 1000 in Beijing is out

The draw for the highly anticipated WTA 1000 in Beijing (from September 24 to October 5) has just been released, and it's safe to say it promises some high-level matchups.

In the top half of the draw, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek could quickly face the young talent Mirra Andreeva, while Jessica Pegula, formidable on hard courts, is in the same section as Qinwen Zheng, the rising Chinese star, boosted by playing at home.

The bottom half of the draw is not any easier: Coco Gauff, seeking confidence after a mixed summer, could face Amanda Anisimova in the early rounds. Elena Rybakina shares the lower part of the draw with Jasmine Paolini, the recent winner of the Billie Jean King Cup.

Two major absences significantly alter the tournament's dynamics: Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, and Madison Keys, the US Open winner, are absent. While their absence might seem to benefit some, it's yet to be seen who will take advantage of it.