SHENZHEN, CHINA – After a long, exhausting summer, punctuated by the Olympics and the U.S. Open, many of the top players have taken a break from regular tour events, opting for Davis Cup, fall holidays, fashion shows and tennis played in kilts. This week, however, some of the world’s top men’s players begin the China swing, made up of four tournaments at the ATP 250, 500 and Masters 1,000 levels.
While storylines for Beijing’s China Open and the Shanghai Masters will undoubtedly center on the Race for London, the theme for the first week of play in China is “redemption”—players looking to salvage mediocre seasons, come back from injury, or take advantage of a week where only two Top 10 players are in action.