Wuhan to Play Host as World Snooker Returns to China

China's Ding Junhui in action at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. AFP
China's Ding Junhui in action at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. AFP
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Wuhan to Play Host as World Snooker Returns to China

China's Ding Junhui in action at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. AFP
China's Ding Junhui in action at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. AFP

The World Snooker Tour hailed the "momentous announcement" of three tournaments in China this year, including one in Wuhan, as the return of international sport to the country gathers pace.

Almost all international sports events were cancelled in China after Covid emerged in Wuhan in late 2019, and they are only just returning after travel curbs were lifted.

The World Snooker Tour will stage the first professional snooker tournament in mainland China in four years with the showpiece Shanghai Masters on September 11-17, the WST said.

That will be followed by the Wuhan Open on October 9-15 and the International Championship in November at a Chinese city yet to be confirmed, AFP reported.

Total prize money for three events combined will be more than £2 million ($2.5 million).

"This is a momentous announcement for our sport as we ramp up our return to staging events in Asia," said WST chairman Steve Dawson.

"Throughout the pandemic we have maintained dialogue and relationships with the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association as well as our key partners and promoters across China.

"This has allowed us to make a fast return to staging key events now that travel restrictions have lifted."

In a nod to snooker's popularity in the world's most populous country, Dawson added: "We will continue to explore opportunities to stage further events in China and beyond."



Pegula Out of China Open after a 4th-Round Loss to Badosa

Paula Badosa of Spain serves during the women's singles fourth round match against Jessica Pegula of United States in the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 01 October 2024. (EPA)
Paula Badosa of Spain serves during the women's singles fourth round match against Jessica Pegula of United States in the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 01 October 2024. (EPA)
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Pegula Out of China Open after a 4th-Round Loss to Badosa

Paula Badosa of Spain serves during the women's singles fourth round match against Jessica Pegula of United States in the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 01 October 2024. (EPA)
Paula Badosa of Spain serves during the women's singles fourth round match against Jessica Pegula of United States in the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 01 October 2024. (EPA)

Paula Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula at the China Open on Tuesday to reach her eighth career quarterfinal at a WTA 1000-level event.

From 3-1 down in the opening set, former No. 2-ranked Badosa dominated in her first ever win over third-ranked Pegula.

“She’s one the of the players I never want to face -- she’s very solid, hits very flat, changes very well direction,,” said Badosa, who was 0-3 previously against Pegula. “I prepared myself for a battle, but I think today everything worked pretty well.

“Every point was very important for me, especially against Jessica, because she can come back at any moment."

Badosa next faces 35-year-old Chinese player Zhang Shuai, who continued her resurgence with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Magdalena Frech of Poland.

Zhang entered the China Open on a 24-match losing streak and ranked No. 595, but she's yet to drop a set in four matches this week. That includes eliminating US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro in straight sets for her first win over a Top 10 player in two years.

Zhang is now into her first women's tour quarterfinal since Tokyo in 2022, and her first at a WTA 1000 tournament since Cincinnati in the same year.

Later Tuesday, No. 14-ranked Anna Kalinskaya was scheduled to meet Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine, before the marquee women's match of the day between four-time major winner Naomi Osaka and sixth-ranked Coco Gauff.

It will be the first meeting between the two Grand Slam champions in more than two years, with the head-to-head series tied at 2-2.

On the men's side, Carlos Alcaraz was playing fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev in the first semifinal, with the Spaniard holding a 5-2 advantage in their head-to-head history.

Defending champion and top-ranked Janner Sinner was set to face No. 96-ranked Bu Yunchaokete, who is playing in his first ATP 500 semifinal.