Seoul | Raducanu and Watson in Korea Open motion this week

The WTA 500 match in Seoul this week, the Hana Financial institution Korea Open, suffered a number of high-profile withdrawals that would simply provide a uncommon alternative for Emma Raducanu, who gained direct entry into the 28-woman draw.

It’s powerful. It could possibly be somewhat bit simpler, however I’m maintaining with the schedule. I’m solely speaking about necessary tournaments and there are guidelines about necessary tournaments. However I’m prepared for taking part in until November, I assume, until I’m going to get injured. Iga Swiatek

Simply a few days earlier than the draw was made, World No 1 Iga Swiatek was the newest to drag out, citing fatigue and becoming a member of defending champion Jessica Pegula, US Open semi-finalist Emma Navarro, World No 4 Elena Rybakina, British No 1 Katie Boulter, and former World No 1 Karolina Pliskova on the sidelines.

The 23-year previous Pole admitted that the schedule had taken its toll and he or she is mentally and bodily exhausted after taking part in an prolonged clay-court swing adopted by Wimbledon, the Paris Olympics and the North American hard-court marketing campaign.

After her quarter-final exit by the hands of Pegula on the US Open, Swiatek stated: “It’s powerful. It could possibly be somewhat bit simpler, however I’m maintaining with the schedule. I’m solely speaking about necessary tournaments and there are guidelines about necessary tournaments.

“However I’m prepared for taking part in until November, I assume, until I’m going to get injured.”

However, she has now joined the lengthy listing of gamers to pulled out of the Korea Open, which will get underway on Monday.

The result’s that a number of lower-ranked gamers have been pushed into the primary draw, with 2021 US Open champion Raducanu amongst them.

Initially given a wild-card, Raducanu is now a direct entry into the primary draw as one of many alternates along with her rating of 72, and, with no factors to defend, the British No 2 has a chance to stand up the rankings if she will get a couple of wins below her belt.

© Andrej Isakovic/AFP through Getty Photos

Two Russians now head the draw, with World No 13 Daria Kasatkina the highest seed, and Liudmila Samsonova, seeded 2, whereas Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, Diana Shnaider, additionally Russian, and Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk finishing the highest 5.

The highest 4 seeds obtain opening-round byes, and Kasatkina anchors the highest quarter together with No 8 seed Yuan Yue from China.

The part options two US Open champions in Raducanu, who will face America’s Peyton Stearns within the 1st spherical, and Sloane Stephens, who takes on compatriot Hailey Baptiste.

No 2 seed Samsonova and No 6 seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan are the highest seeds within the final quarter.

Putintseva faces a tricky opener in opposition to No 46 Amanda Anismova from the USA, who made her first WTA 1000 remaining over the summer season in Toronto.

Raducanu can take confidence from her solely earlier assembly in opposition to Stearns, ranked 49, having crushed her in Washington in her final common tour occasion, 7-6(6) 6-2.

If Raducanu can advance once more, she could possibly be in line for an additional assembly with America’s Sloane Stephens, whom she has crushed of their earlier 2 conferences.

Kasakina, the World No 13, could possibly be an opponent within the third spherical, all of which could serve Raducanu the prospect to climb again into the Prime 50 by the tip of the yr with no factors to defend from 2023, having missed the second half of final yr as a consequence of damage.

Heather Watson got here by way of qualifying in Seoul and received her opening foremost draw in opposition to Lu Jia-Jing on Monday

© Clive Brunskill/Getty Photos

In the meantime, one other Briton, Heather Watson, got here by way of qualifying over the weekend and opened her foremost draw marketing campaign with a 6-4 6-4 win over Chinese language qualifier Lu Jia-Jing, organising a 2nd-round encounter with Kostyuk, who dropped simply 4 video games in opposition to Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus, 6-3 6-1.

Day 1 motion additionally noticed 2022 champion Ekaterina Alexandrova, the seventh seed from Russia, get the higher of 2014 finalist Lepchenko, now an American qualifier, 7-5 3-6 6-0, after successful the primary set from 2-5 down, and saving 3 set factors alongside the best way.

Additionally advancing was Canadian qualifier Carol Zhao, who was a 6-4 6-1 winner over wild-card Dayson Again from Korea, and he or she subsequent will play Shnaider, the 4th seed.

Veronika Kudermetova from Russia delivered China’s Zhang Shuai one other loss, her twenty fourth consecutive defeat  this yr, 6-4 6-3, to arrange a gathering with 2nd-seeded compatriot Samsonova; whereas one other Chinese language, Yuan Yue, the eighth seed, defeated Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse, 4-6 6-2 6-2, and can be a check for both Raducanu or Stearns in spherical 2, who play on Tuesday.