Caro & Vera Look To Conquer Tokyo

The first of two back-to-back Premier events takes place this week with the $2-million Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Caroline Wozniacki and Vera Zvonareva, two of the hottest players this summer, lead the seeds. Wozniacki, who won 19 of 21 matches during the summer hardcourt season, is the No.1 seed. She hasn't had the best results at the Toray Pan Pacific Open before, losing her opening matches in both previous appearances (2008 and 2009) but she has had success in Tokyo before, winning the Japan Open in 2008 (that tournament has since moved to Osaka). After a first round bye, she will face the winner of two qualifiers in the second round.

Zvonareva, a finalist at both Wimbledon and US Open (losing to Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters, respectively) and now at a career-high No.4 ranking, is the No.2 seed. Zvonareva has also struggled here, losing her opening matches in both previous appearances too (2007 and 2009) but she is in top form. She faces Sara Errani or Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in her opener.

Jelena Jankovic, Sam Stosur, Francesca Schiavone, Agnieszka Radwanska and Elena Dementieva are seeded No.3 through No.7, with Victoria Azarenka at No.8. Not far behind are Li Na, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Marion Bartoli and Maria Sharapova, seeded No.9 through No.12.

Former champions in the field are Sharapova (2005 and 2009), Dementieva (2006) and unseeded players Dinara Safina (2008) and Kimiko Date Krumm (1995). In perhaps the most intriguing first round clash, Sharapova will face Date Krumm, with the winner to potentially play Daniela Hantuchova next.

Six Players In Line For Doha Berths
Six players could qualify for Doha this week. The scenarios are as follows...
Caroline Wozniacki
- needs to reach quarterfinals OR Azarenka does not win title
Vera Zvonareva
- needs to reach semifinals OR Azarenka does not reach final and neither Dementieva, Li, Peer, Radwanska nor Petrova (if reaches Seoul final) wins title
Samantha Stosur
- needs to win title
Serena Williams
- Azarenka does not reach final AND neither Li nor Dementieva wins title
Kim Clijsters
- Azarenka does not reach final AND neither Li, Dementieva nor Petrova (if wins Seoul title) wins title
Venus Williams
- will qualify unless one of following three things happens:
i) Azarenka reaches semifinals
ii) Li or Dementieva reaches final
iii) Radwanska, Peer, Sharapova, Rezai or Petrova wins title