Star Withdrawals Thin Field at Upgraded Singapore Open

Overview

• The Singapore Open begins Monday with ten pre-tournament withdrawals that have removed several top names from the 28-player WTA 500 field.
• Jessica Pegula confirmed her exit on social media, saying fatigue after a long hard-court swing and a deep US Open run left her unable to compete.
• Organisers and the WTA have slotted alternates, qualifiers and wildcards into the draw, with Leylah Fernandez awarded a wildcard and seeded inside the reshuffled field.
• Alexandra Eala is the third seed, has issued a positive fitness update, received a bye into round two and faces a projected path that could include Donna Vekic, Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva.
• The tournament’s upgrade to WTA 500 raises ranking points and prize money for byes and early wins, intensifying the event’s role as a China Open warm-up and highlighting tensions over player scheduling and national‑duty conflicts.