Also competing were Doha and 's-Hertogenbosch winner Ivan Ljubičić, Zagreb titlist and Beijing defending champion Marcos Baghdatis, Hyung-taik Lee, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Igor Kunitsyn.

2, US Open runner-up, New Haven winner and Beijing defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, Charleston and Rome Tier I, Auckland and Birmingham titlist Jelena Janković, and Antwerp champion Amélie Mauresmo.

Other seeded players were Moscow Tier I and Istanbul winner Elena Dementieva, Tokyo titlist Martina Hingis, Ágnes Szávay, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Eleni Daniilidou.

WTA no.1 Justine Henin was initially announced to play the 2007 China Open, headlining the women's draw as top seed in what would have been her debut appearance in Beijing.

However, fearing that the city's heavy air would aggravate her asthma, she ended up withdrawing prior to the start of the tournament.