Asian Preview

The Asian swing of the tour is well underway especially for the womenas they are now halfway their eighth "Tier I" event of the year in Tokyo.  Then they'll all cross over to China and play a Mandatory event in Beijing.  Here are those women with big points to defend in Tokyo and Beijing.

2010 Tokyo final:  Caroline Woznaicki (DEN) def. Elena Dementieva (RUS)
2010 Beijing final:  Wozniacki def. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
Losing semifinalists:  Victoria Azarenka (BLR), Francesca Schiavone (ITA) -- Tokyo; Shahar Peer (ISR), Na Li (CHN) -- Beijing
Losing quarterfinalists:  Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), Coco Vandeweghe (USA), Kaia Kanepi (EST), Zvonareva -- Tokyo; Ana Ivanovic (SRB), Timea Bacsinszky (SUI), Anastasija Sevastova (LAT), Schiavone -- Beijing

Obviously Wozniacki was the hero last year, winning both tournaments.  Schiavone and Zvonareva joined her making at least quarters at both tournaments.  We have heard very little of Vandeweghe, Bacsinszky, Sevastova, and even Kanepi and Peer to some extent, since those tournaments last year.

These two tournaments will be important for qualifying into the year end championships, as several spots are still up for grabs.  Only 1500 points separate 3rd through 10th in the "race standings".  Even players outside the top 10 could throw themselves into the mix with strong showings at both tournaments.  Also at stake here and in the year end championships will be seeding for Australia, though a long way off.  Here's the official race standings.

Tokyo Quarterfinalists
2) Maria Sharapova (RUS)
3) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
4) Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
5) Petra Kvitova (CZE)
7) Marion Bartoli (FRA)
9) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
Maria Kirilenko (RUS)
Kaia Kanepi (EST)

I thought I might as well write about the early part of Tokyo, since it's already occurred.  Five of the top 8 seeds are through but that does not include the defending champion and world no. 1 who continues to struggle.  Kanepi, Radwanska, and Zvonareva have all defending quarterfinal points, while Azarenka ('10 SF) joins that trio to make 4 returners from last year's quarters.  Interesting that Schiavone was absent due to her defending SF points and being #10 in the race.  She must be fighting some kind of injury.  Also Li is skipping this tournament.  Stosur and Jankovic were the other two top 8 seeds eliminated.  Bartoli's running here greatly increases her chances of making the championships cut off especially with Petkovic and Schiavone not showing up, so it may prove that finding the eight is anticlimactic.  There are some nice matchups on tap for "tonight":

-Radwanska vs Kanepi
-Azarenka vs Bartoli
-Zvonareva vs Kirilenko
-Sharapova vs Kvitova