As we close in the men’s (ATP) and women’s (WTA) professional tennis tours, we are met with a few weeks worth of important tournaments in Asia. From lower-level tournaments like the 250s to a few major tournaments like the Masters’ 1000s, the continent of Asia plays a significant role in the culmination of both the ATP and WTA tours. So, let’s take a look at some of the action on the other side of the world.

On the women’s side, a series of Asia-based tournaments carry the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tour to the end of its season. Among the tournaments are five WTA 250s, three WTA 500s, and two WTA 1000s; as the number increases, the larger the tournament.

The 250s, located in Osaka (Japan), Guangzhou (China), Nanchang (China), and Hong Kong, are all relatively tenured tournaments, having been played for anywhere from 10 years to 20 years. The 500s – Seoul (South Korea), Ningbo (China), and Tokyo (Japan) – range in age from seven to 39 years. These tournaments, like the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, have been played by many famous stars, such as Steffi Graf, Billie Jean King, and Maria Sharapova.

Finally, the WTA 1000s, located in Beijing (China) and Wuhan (China), are the largest tournaments in the Asia series of the WTA, taking 96 and 56 singles players, respectively. The China Open in Beijing takes place at the same time as a Men’s ATP 500 tournament in Beijing, allowing for more publicity between both men and women.

On the men’s ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tour, the block of Asian tournaments follows the coveted Laver Cup. It spans about four weeks and consists of two 250s, two 500s, and one Masters’ 1000. The 250s, located in Hangzhou (China) and Chengdu (China), are relatively new tournaments, having been added within the last six years. The 500s – Beijing and Tokyo – have been played for much longer, with the Japan Open in Tokyo having been played for the past 50 years.

Finally, the Masters’ 1000 is played in Shanghai (China). Shanghai has always been an important city for the ATP tour. Initially, it was the place where the ATP Finals were held. Now, 96 singles players compete there for about 10 days for a Masters’ 1000 title. The Shanghai Masters has always been highly regarded, and several top players such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Daniil Medvedev have all claimed the trophy.

To conclude, Asia has played a significant role in the ATP and WTA calendars. These series connect the climax of both tours to the end of the year with weeks of intense and captivating matches between some of the world’s best players.