The 2003 Polo Open was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts in Shanghai, China. It was the 5th edition of the China Open, and was a Tier II tournament on the 2003 WTA Tour. The tournament was played between 15 – 21 September 2003. First-seeded Elena Dementieva won the singles title.
The tournament was not part of the 2003 ATP Tour, as no male events took place.
| Country | Player | Rank1 | Seed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Russian Federation | Elena Dementieva | 9 | 1 | |
| Chanda Rubin | 10 | 2 | ||
 Japan | Ai Sugiyama | 12 | 3 | |
 Spain | Conchita Martínez | 13 | 4 | |
| Jelena Dokic | 21 | 5 | ||
 Australia | Alicia Molik | 38 | 6 | |
 France | Émilie Loit | 41 | 7 | |
| Cara Black | 44 | 8 |
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:
The following players received entry from the singles qualifying draw:
The following players received entry as lucky losers into the singles main draw:
| Country | Player | Country | Player | Rank1 | Seed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Conchita Martínez | Angelique Widjaja | 51 | 1 | ||
| Cara Black | Australia | Alicia Molik | 57 | 2 | ||
 Hungary | Petra Mandula | Barbara Schett | 60 | 3 | ||
| Emmanuelle Gagliardi | Chanda Rubin | 65 | 4 |
The following players received entry from the singles qualifying draw:
The following pairs received entry as lucky losers into the doubles main draw:
Dong Yanhua / Zhang YaoSee main article: 2003 China Open – Singles. Elena Dementieva defeated 
Chanda Rubin, 6–3, 7–6(8–6)
See main article: 2003 China Open – Doubles. Émilie Loit / Nicole Pratt defeated Ai Sugiyama / 
Tamarine Tanasugarn, 6–3, 6–3
