Beijing draw: Ostapenko's opponent still to be determined
The Beijing WTA 1000 draw revealed that Baltic tennis leader Jelena Ostapenko will face either Paula Badosa or Daria Kasatkina in her opening match, with Elise Mertens a possible third-round opponent.
The draw for the hard-court WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing has revealed the potential path ahead for Jelena Ostapenko, the leading tennis player among the Baltic states.
Ostapenko is seeded 24th at the tournament and currently sits 32nd in the world ranking. As a seeded player, she has received a bye from the first round and advances directly to the second round.
Her opponent there will be determined by a match between Spain's Paula Badosa, ranked 59th in the world, and Daria Kasatkina, who represents Australia and is ranked 87th. The two will play each other first, with the winner then facing Ostapenko.
Should Ostapenko successfully get past that match, she could meet Belgium's Elise Mertens, currently ranked 19th, in the third round.
The main draw of the Beijing tournament on hard courts begins on September 30. The event carries WTA 1000 status, making it one of the more prestigious stops on the season's calendar.
