Aryna Sabalenka will begin her China Open campaign as the second seed after losing the world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina following the US Open.
The Belarusian, who held the top spot for 99 weeks, enters the Beijing tournament seeking her first title since March and her first major trophy of the year.
Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, lost to Rybakina in the US Open final earlier this month, with the result also contributing to her fall from the top of the rankings.
The 28-year-old will face either Hungary’s Anna Bondar or Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in the second round.
Sabalenka missed last year’s China Open because of injury but said she was returning this time in better physical and mental condition after a difficult middle part of the season.
Rybakina is the tournament’s top seed and will open against either Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtseva or Armenia’s Alina Charaeva.
Defending champion Amanda Anisimova will not defend her title after ending her season early because of a wrist injury.
In the men’s event, Novak Djokovic will begin his campaign against Portugal’s Nuno Borges as he seeks a seventh China Open title.
The 39-year-old Serbian has never lost a singles match at the Beijing tournament and enters the event ranked 11th in the world.
Djokovic, a record 24-time Grand Slam champion, has won six China Open titles.
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