Looking at the Week: Shanghai, Linz, Osaka

A preview of the fields this week as Roger Federer plays to keep the No. 1 ranking in Shanghai and the WTA splits its roster between tournaments in Linz, Austria, and Osaka, Japan.

By Nicholas McCarvel

Roger Federer plays in Shanghai this week

(October 8, 2012) -- Roger Federer is a man on a mission this week in Shanghai. A year after Federer skipped the Asian swing altogether, the Swiss world No. 1 returns to China this week with the world’s top ranking on the line -- and increased security around his entourage.

At the Shanghai Masters, Federer is sans his twins and wife Mirka, a decision he said was not affected by the death threat -- posted on the Chinese site baidu.com -- he learned about 10 days ago.

On the court, it’s the top ranking that world No. 2 Novak Djokovic has his eye on. Should the Serb win in Shanghai and Federer fails to reach the quarterfinals, Nole will re-claim the world’s top spot.

The WTA splits this week between Europe and Asia with events in Linz and Osaka, respectively. Here’s a preview of what to come from the three tour stops this week:

SHANGHAI (View Draws)

Federer needs just two match wins thanks to a first-round bye to maintain his No. 1 ranking, and is slotted to face Stanislas Wawrinka, his countryman and sometimes doubles partner, in the round of 16. It’s No. 7 seed Juan Monaco who Fed would face in the quarterfinals, the Argentine who has won just one set against the Swiss man in four matches.

While all eyes are going to be on Federer-Djokovic (who could meet in the final), plenty will be on Andy Murray, the No. 3 seed and Olympic and US Open champ. Murray admitted to lingering “residue” from his epic summer after an upset loss to Milos Raonic at the ATP stop in Tokyo where he was the defending champion.

After a bye, Murray could face Bernard Tomic or Florian Mayer -- both dangerous opponents -- in round two. He’s slated to play big-serving American John Isner, the No. 8 seed, in the quarterfinals. The 6-foot-9 Isner will have to find his form again in Shanghai following a disastrous US Open exit in the third round and two disappointing Davis Cup semifinal losses two weeks ago against Spain.

Djokovic’s half of the draw has him potentially facing No. 4 seed Tomas Berdych or the fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semifinals. But those two will potentially have to get past Kei Nishikori or Milos Raonic, the title winner and runner up, respectively, from Tokyo last week.

Djokovic will open against the always-danger Grigor Dimitrov in round two, and is set to face off against countryman Janko Tipsarevic, the No. 6 seed, in the quarterfinals.

LINZ (View Draws)

How do you celebrate winning a Premier WTA title in Beijing and beating Maria Sharapova handily in the final? You go to a small, $220,000 tournament in Austria, of course.

That’s what world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka is doing this week following her impressive run at the China Open, in which she beat No. 3 Sharapova 6-3, 6-1 in a final reminiscent of their Australian Open encounter.

Not much should trouble Vika in Linz, where she has a potential showdown against a struggling Sabine Lisicki, who is 1-5 in her last six matches (including a straight-sets loss to the Belarussian a week ago), in the quarterfinals. Dominika Cibulkova is the third seed and looms large for Azarenka in the semifinals after the Czech stunned her at this year’s French Open.

Big-hitting Julia Goerges is always dangerous indoors, and is coming off an upset of Sam Stosur in Beijing last week. Ana Ivanovic, the 2010 Linz champion, is the No. 2 seed here. Andrea Petkovic, a wildcard as her ranking has plummeted to No. 192, is looking for her a win after four straight losses in her comeback from injuries.

American fans will also be keeping an eye open for former Stanford standout Mallory Burdette, who won three qualifying matches to make her way into the main draw this week. Burdette made the third round of the US Open, losing there to Sharapova.

OSAKA (View Draws)

While the WTA is inching closer to its season-ending event in Istanbul with stops in Linz this week and Moscow next week, a solid draw remains in Osaka for the HP Japan Women’s Open.

Stosur is the No. 1 seed here and is seeking just her fourth career title. Yaroslava Shvedova and Laura Robson are the seeds to watch in her half of the draw, the young Brit having given Stosur plenty of trouble at this year’s US Open.

Christina McHale, the No. 3 seed, was knocked out in the first round by Kai-Chen Chang Monday. The American still appears to be rebounding from a stomach bug and mononucleosis, which she battled late this summer.

Pesky opponents could stand in the way of Stosur and a fourth win as No. 2 seed Jie Zheng is dangerous from the baseline, as are No. 4 and 6 seeds, Francesca Schiavone and Anabel Medina Garrigues, respectively.

Yet much like Linz is Vika’s tournament to lose, so too is Osaka for Stosur, who played brilliantly in a three-set quarterfinal loss to the Belarussian at the US Open.

(File Photo: Roger Federer plays at the 2012 U.S. Open; Credit: Andy Kentla)