Djokovic Defends Shanghai Title, Kerber Clinches Last Istanbul Spot

Novak Djokovic his success on the Asian circuit, was has often been kind to him in the past as he defended his Shanghai title, which gives him a perfect 10-0 record in Asia and an 18-1 record dating back to the US Open.  He gets an assist, though, from the losing finalist, Del Potro, who ousted Nadal in the semis, handing the Spaniard just his 2nd hard court loss of the year.  With Djokovic now in good form, we will see he can carry his winning to the end of the year in Paris and London or if Nadal will be able to make any in-roads in the fall after coming away title-less in China.

1) Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. 6) Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 6-1 3-6 7-6(3)

-Djokovic wins 39th career title, 5th of 2013, last '13 Beijing
-It is his 15th Masters title, and he is still 4th all-time
-It is his 2nd win in Shanghai ('12) and 6th win in China
-With his finals appearance, Del Potro clinches a spot in the World Tour Finals.
-Berdych is likely in, while Wawrinka, Federer, Tsonga, Gasquet, and Raonic are separated by less than 400 points

In WTA action, Samantha Stosur made 2013 the first year in which she won more than one title, by winning in Osaka, a place where she has had success in the past.  And the field at the year end championships in Istanbul is now set as Angelique Kerber won the title in Linz, where she a late wildcard.  Kerber clinches because Wozniacki is playing in Luxembourg this week rather than Moscow.

More on this in the coming days but the Istanbul field is Serena, Azarenka, Radwanska, Li, Kvitova, Errani, Jankovic, and Kerber.  It only the second in the history of the championships (last year was the other) than all eight contestants hail from different countries.

WTA International: Osaka, Japan

3) Samantha Stosur (AUS) def. 5) Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 3-6 7-5 6-2

-Stosur wins 5th career title, last '13 Carlsbad
-She won her first title in '09 Osaka

Defending champion: Heather Watson (GBR) - R1 l. to Puig

Quarterfinalists: 6) Madison Keys (USA)-SF, Jie Zheng (CHN), Polona Hercog (SLO), Misaki Doi (JPN), Kurumi Nara (JPN)-SF, Q) Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)

Players reaching QF in '12 and '13: Stosur and Doi
Locals performance: 6-4, 21-yr-old Nara to the semis, Doi to the quarters, Date-Krumm to the second round (l. to Doi), and only Morita lost in round 1.

Americans performance: 4-4, Keys reached her first WTA semi but Lepchenko and q-Davis lost their match. l-King upset Pennetta before falling to a qualifier
Other notable winners: 16-yr-old Belinda Bencic (SUI), the world no. 244, picked up another main draw win

Third set tiebreaks: none

WTA International: Linz, Austria

1) Angelique Kerber (GER) def. 3) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 6-4 7-6(6)

-Kerber wins 3rd career title, last '12 Copenhagen

Defending champion: Victoria Azarenka (BLR) - did not play

Quarterfinalists: 2) Sloane Stephens (USA), 4) Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)-SF, 5) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL), 7) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK), Stephanie Voegele (SUI)-SF, Patricia Mayr-Achleitner (AUT)

Players reaching QF in '12 and '13: Ivanovic and Flipkens

Locals performance: 2-3, Mayr-Achleitner reached the quarters, but Meusburger and Klaffner lost in the opening round
Americans performance: 2-1, Stephens the only entrant

Third set tiebreaks: none