Iga Swiatek is confirmed as the first entrant in the 28-player draw at the 2023 Japan Open in Tokyo.
The news was confirmed by the tournament's social media pages. They will welcome the world number one for the 38th edition of the WTA tournament which is set to be played in the week beginning September 25th and running till October 1st, 2023.
The Toray Pan Pacific Open returned to its usual spot on the calendar last autumn following a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, as almost the entire Asian swing was wiped off in that time span. It will be Swiatek's first WTA event in Tokyo.
Swiatek's schedule after the US Open isn't clear, but she'll most likely play the WTA 1000 in Guadalajara before flying to Tokyo. Bringing Swiatek to Japan is certainly a major coup for the tournament which traditionally has previously welcomed some of the world's best players including former No. 1s such as Steffi Graf, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, and Naomi Osaka.
"Good news for Toray PPO fans! WTA world No. 1 player Iga Swiatek announces participation in Toray PPO 2023 It's a big chance to watch live the play of the world champion who is full of variety and speed. Check the official website toray-ppo.com for details and tickets."
The Japan Open is a WTA 500-level event and was won by Russia's Liudmila Samsonva last season. Swiatek will look to follow in the footsteps of retired Polish star Agnieszka Radwańska who is a two-time champion. The 22-year-old will be the headline act at the Japan Open, and whether she'll still be ranked No. 1 by then remains a close call.
Swiatek and Sabalenka will be in a hotly contested battle for top spot during the US summer swing, beginning at this week's Canadian Open where there is a possibility of the number ranking changing hands.
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