Previews: Aryna Sabalenka in China Open; Laver Cup stars, including Carlos Alcaraz, in Tokyo and Beijing

Fall is here, which means that pro tennis players are busy migrating East for the Asian swing. What began last week with modest events in Seoul, Chengdu and Hangzhou escalates with bigger tournaments in Tokyo and Beijing, starting on Tuesday.

The men’s side gets a welcome injection of marquee names from the Laver Cup, including Carlos Alcaraz. Among the women, most of the WTA’s elite, including Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, will be in action at the 1000-level China Open.

The draws for the men’s tournament in Tokyo, and the women’s in Beijing, are out (see links below). The ATP draw in Beijing will be held on Tuesday morning Western time. Here’s a look at how the 2024 homestretch will begin:

China Open (WTA)

• Beijing
• $8,955,610; WTA 1000
• Hard court
• Draw is HERE

Seven of the women’s Top 10 have made the trip to Beijing. The missing three are defending champion Iga Swiatek (personal reasons), Elena Rybakina (back injury) and Danielle Collins (illness). Swiatek has talked a lot this year about her dislike of mandatory events, and her desire to set her own schedule. The Asian swing, which includes the Wuhan 1000, doesn’t seem to fit into those plans this season. In the case of the China Open, that’s a bit of a surprise. She played it for the first time last fall and won the title.

But one star does not make a tour. The top two seeds are Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, fresh off their US Open final earlier this month. Near Sabalenka in the draw are Madison Keys and Beatriz Haddad Maia, who won Seoul this weekend.

Rounding out the Top 8 are Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff, Zheng Qinwen, Emma Navarro, Wimbledon champ Barbora Krejcikova and Jelena Ostapenko.

Of particular interest:

—Gauff, who will begin the post-Brad Gilbert era of her career.

—Zheng, who will return to her nation’s capital as a gold medalist.

—Navarro, who will play her first tournament as a member of the Top 10, something that must still feel a little surreal for the 23-year-old.

Also here: US Open semifinalist Karolina Muchova, Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic and 2019 Beijing champion Naomi Osaka. She’ll start against Lucia Bronzetti and is in Gauff’s section of the draw.

China Open (ATP)

Beijing

$3,891,650; ATP 500

Hard court

Draw is HERE

The women’s China Open is a mandatory, 1000-level event, and the men’s is a non-mandatory 500, but the draws are similarly strong. Sinnaraz strong: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the two players who have split the four majors between them this season, are the Top 2 seeds.

Sinner, who will be in action for the first time since winning the US Open, plays Nicolas Jarry to start. Alcaraz, who is coming off a successful Laver Cup debut this weekend in Berlin, will play 6-foot-8 French rookie Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Last year in Beijing, Sinner beat Alcaraz in the semifinals, but Alcaraz has won both of their meetings in 2024. Will we be lucky enough to see them in the final this week? There will be obstacles to overcome, including Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Grigor Dimitrov, and Lorenzo Musetti.

First-round match to watch:

• Medvedev vs. Gael Monfils

Kinoshita Group Japan Open (ATP)

• Tokyo
• $1,989,865; ATP 500
• Hard court
• Draw is HERE

Tokyo has been a home away from home for U.S. men the last two seasons. In 2022, Taylor Fritz beat Frances Tiafoe for the title, and last year Ben Shelton won his first and so far only 500-level event.

All three of those Americans have returned in 2024, but all three may be a little weary when they get there. They spent a lot of time on court this weekend in Berlin during Team World’s valiant, but losing, Laver Cup effort. Fritz, the top seed, will play Arthur Fils; Shelton plays Reilly Opelka; and Tiafoe faces Brandon Nakashima. No cakewalks there.

Rounding out the Top 8 seeds are Hubert Hurkacz, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tommy Paul and Holger Rune.

First-round matches to watch:

• Fritz vs. Fils
• Tiafoe vs. Nakashima
• Paul vs. Matteo Arnaldi
• Marin Cilic vs. Kei Nishikori, in a battle of 30-somethings on the comeback trail, and a rematch of the 2014 US Open final 10 years later
• Rune vs. Alejandro Tabilo
• Ruud vs. Jordan Thompson