Beijing commences, Tokyo next

China remains the focus for elite tennis in the coming week for both men and women. 

Japan is also hosting a tournament, to continue the Asian leg of the 2018 tennis circuit.

Beijing

WTA China Open, in Beijing, China, on Hard Deco-Turf (Premier Mandatory category)

Simona Halep is top seed, world ranked number one, and 42 of the worlds top 50:are in the main draw.

Since the first round began just a day after the Wuhan semi finals, byes were granted to the Wuhan semi finalists, including Aryna Sabalenka, Anett Kontaveit and Qiang Wang 

One of these, Ash Barty, seeded 16 in Beijing, was ultimately unnecessary as the Australian withdrew late.  

Her place as a seed in the Beijing main draw was taken by Madison Keys (17).

WTA Beijing early first round results 

• Donna Vekic defeated Maria Sakkari 6-1 6-4
• Dasha Gavrilova defeated Petra Kvitová (5) 6-2 6-1, reversing the result from Birmingham in June this year.  Gavrilova surprisingly leads 3-2 in the head to head between the two.
• Julia Goerges (10) defeated Johanna Konta 6-2 4-6 6-3
• Danielle Collins defeated Timea Bacsinszky 6-2 3-6 6-3
• Jelena Ostapenko (12) defeated Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4 7-6(3)
• Aleksandra Krunic defeated Elina Svitolina (6) 0-6 6-4 7-6(4), after trailing 0-6 1-4.  This was the first win for Krunic over Svitolina, who had done ok in Montreal and Cincinnati, but had an ordinary run in the majors, since winning the Premier 5 tournament in Rome in May.

ATP China Open, in Beijing, China, on Hard Deco-Turf (ATP 500 category)

Juan Martin del Potro is top seed, world ranked four, and all eight seeds are in the top 25.

Tokyo

ATP Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships, on Hard (ATP 500 category)

Marin Cilic is top seed, world ranked six, and all eight seeds are in the top 30.