Novak Djokovic, Venus Williams headline the upcoming China Open
The second ranked tennis player, Novak Djokovic and American tennis star, Venus Williams, are headed to Beijing for the China Open. The competition will feature a couple of the world’s top tennis contenders on tour, starting on Saturday.
Both the WTA as well as the ATP tours have made the hard surface competitions, which will start from October 10, a major part of their long-term planning for developing the game in the vast countries.
While the sport's dominant pair, Roger Federer and World number one, Rafael Nadal, of Spain are scheduled to contest in Shanghai during the middle of next month, they have opted out of the Beijing competition, thus, clearing the path for the Serbian tennis
player Novak Djokovic to defend the trophy that he captured back in 2009.
The twenty-three year old Serbian, who this month also helped Serbia to earn a place in the final of the Davis Cup event versus France, will face a difficult challenge from British number one, Andy Murray. Who has been out of action since his third round
defeat at this year’s final Grand Slam, the United States Open in New York.
Seven of the World’s top ten contenders from the men’s side will contest in the Chinese capital along with the Swedish tennis player, Robin Soderling who is a also a French Open finalist. Wimbledon runner up, Tomas Berdych, from the Czech Republic, and Russian
veteran, Nikolay Davydenko, are also scheduled to take part.
Nikolay is taking nothing for granted at the moment. He stated on his website that he is all set for the upcoming challenge during the next couple of weeks with three trophies to defend namely Basel, Beijing and Paris, prior to his participation in the year
ending tournament in London.
In the women's section, the draw lost some big stars with the withdrawals of top ranked American Serena Williams and the United States Open winner, Kim Clijsters, both taking rest due to injuries.
The twenty-seven year old Clijsters, who recently captured her third United States Open crown after getting the better of Vera in the title battle, expressed her disappointment on her website for not being able to take part in Beijing as a result of her
foot injury.
"I am very sorry to have to cancel for Beijing due to my injury”, said the mother of a one and a half year old daughter, Jada.
The Dane tennis sensation Caroline Wozniacki, who is currently ranked number two in the world by the WTA, will be the top seeded woman in Beijing. Serena’s sister, Venus who is a seven-time major champion and world number three, will be her main competitor.
Also in hot pursuit of the trophy will be in-form Vera Zvonareva from Russia, who has jumped to a career high ranking of world number four after ending as runner up to Kim at Flushing Meadows.
Last season’s champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, will also be hoping to come back after crashing out of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week in straight sets at the hands of her German foe, Andrea Petkovic.
Her fellow compatriot, Maria Sharapova, will be looking for redemption after being brutally dumped from the Pan Pacific in the opening round by Kimiko Date Krumm, who turned forty, two days ago.
World number six, Jelena Jankovic from Serbia, who also had good luck in Beijing, making her way into the finals back in 2007 and lifting the trophy the following year, will be looking to play well after being downed by Estonia's Kaia Kanepi in Japan.
The China Open is contested at the National Tennis Centre. The men's main draw gets underway on Monday and women’s draw starts on Saturday.
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