Pennetta made the surprise announcement that she would be retiring from tennis at the end of the season on-court following her US Open victory. The current World No. 7 is consequently likely to end her 15 year-long career at the second edition of Tianjin Open.
The International tier tournament marks one of the last five remaining tournaments on the WTA Calendar, taking place at the same time as the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open and the Generali Ladies Linz before the WTA annual schedule finishes up in Luxembourg and Moscow. The WTA Finals will then commence in late October.
It was launched last year as part of the extended Asian swing and it marks one of six WTA-level tournaments in China. Staged at the Tianjin International Centre, the centre court can seat up to 3500 people.
Sixth ranked Allison Riske won the inaugural edition of the tournament last year, defeating Belinda Bencic in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the final.
Pennetta is set to make her singles debut this week, effectively marking her first and last appearance in singles action at the tournament. She did play the event last year, although she only competed in doubles action.
"I am looking forward to enjoying a wonderful time again in Tianjin. It will be the last WTA tournament I will participate in," Pennetta said in a statement published on the official Tianjin Open website.
Five players in total ranked within the top 20 are set to compete in the draw, as Pennetta joins Agnieszka Radwanska, Karolina Pliskova, 2014 finalist Belinda Bencic and Elina Svitolina. Out of the mentioned players, only Bencic competed in the inaugural edition last season.
Pennetta made the surprise announcement that she would be retiring from tennis at the end of the season on-court following her US Open victory. The current World No. 7 is consequently likely to end her 15 year-long career at the second edition of Tianjin Open.
