As the leaves turn vibrant hues, the tennis world embarks on its annual Asian swing, with the China Open and Kinoshita Group Japan Open taking center stage.
China Open (WTA)
Beijing welcomes seven of the women’s Top 10, including Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, for the prestigious WTA 1000 event. Defending champion Iga Swiatek’s absence is notable, as she prioritizes her schedule amidst mandatory events.
Coco Gauff, fresh from her post-Brad Gilbert era, will be a player to watch. Zheng Qinwen, the gold medalist, returns to her home city with high expectations. Emma Navarro, a recent Top 10 debutante, will seek to make her mark.
Other notable participants include US Open semifinalist Karolina Muchova, Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic, and 2019 Beijing champion Naomi Osaka.
Kinoshita Group Japan Open (ATP)
Tokyo has become a familiar stomping ground for American players, with Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Ben Shelton returning to defend their titles. However, fatigue from the Laver Cup may linger.
Fritz, the top seed, faces a tough opener against Arthur Fils. Shelton and Tiafoe also have challenging first-round matches against Reilly Opelka and Brandon Nakashima, respectively.
Hubert Hurkacz, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tommy Paul, and Holger Rune round out the Top 8 seeds.
Intriguing first-round matchups include Fritz vs. Fils, Tiafoe vs. Nakashima, and Marin Cilic vs. Kei Nishikori, a rematch of the 2014 US Open final.
