SEOUL — As the fall Asian swing of the Hologic WTA Tour begins, the Korea Open, a prestigious WTA 500 tournament, has attracted significant attention with World No.13 Daria Kasatkina leading the draw.

Kasatkina steps into the spotlight as the top seed in Seoul after World No.1 Iga Swiatek withdrew prior to the draw due to an unexpected schedule change. This shift has opened up opportunities for other top players to make their mark.

In the top quarter of the draw, Kasatkina is joined by No.8 seed Yuan Yue. This section promises thrilling matches, featuring two former US Open champions. Emma Raducanu will battle America’s Peyton Stearns in an eagerly anticipated first-round match, while Sloane Stephens faces fellow American Hailey Baptiste in what promises to be a captivating showdown.

The final quarter of the draw is equally compelling, with No.2 seed Liudmila Samsonova and No.6 seed Yulia Putintseva as the leading contenders. Putintseva faces a challenging first-round match against No.46 Amanda Anisimova, who has been in impressive form, reaching her first WTA 1000 final in Toronto over the summer.

The top four seeds in Seoul have earned opening-round byes, ensuring that Kasatkina, Samsonova, No.3 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, and No.4 seed Diana Shnaider will have a bit more time to prepare for their initial matches.

With a mix of rising stars and established champions, the Korea Open is set to deliver exciting tennis action as players compete for valuable points and prestige on the Hologic WTA Tour.