TENNIS in DEPTH.

Ana is in Asia for tournaments in Tokyo and Beijing – her final scheduled events of the season. Almost all of the world’s elite players will be competing in each city, with Beijing classed as a Premier Mandatory event, meaning that it cannot be skipped without penalty. It is also a combined event, and takes place at the stadium that was built for last year’s Olympic Tennis Event.

Ana arrived in Japan on Tuesday and has been practising at the picturesque Ariake Colosseum in the south of Tokyo. The tournament is in its 26th year, but it is only two years since it moved from its traditional position in the calendar, which was in February on indoor carpet.

Ana said: “The field here is very strong so I’m going to have a difficult first round match for sure. I’ve obviously had a very disappointing season, but these two tournaments in Asia are an opportunity to end it on a high. I’m going to try and enjoy myself on the court here.”

Last year’s courts played especially fast and prompted the organizers to re-lay the hard courts: they are now described as “slow”, acccording to International Tennis Federation classifications.

The Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo is a favourite event of many of the players. “Everyone here is so polite and welcoming. It’s actually very humbling to visit here.

The China Open in Beijing,  is a “super” combined event lasting nine days. Consequently, the Tokyo tournament begins on Sunday 27 September and ends on Saturday 3 October, rather than the traditional Sony Ericsson WTA Tour schedule of Monday starts and Sunday finishes.

15 of the world’s top 20 ranked players are set to appear in Tokyo, with world No.1 Dinara Safina and No.2 Serena Williams the most notable absentees. There are no top 20 absentees from Bejing.

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