It’s better late than never for perennial Top 10er Tomas Berdych as the Czech captured his first title of the year on Sunday, defeating Richard Gasquet 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 6-3 for the Shenzhen Open title in China.

It improved Berdych’s chances of qualifying for a seven consecutive ATP year-end championships. He sits at ninth in the 2016-only point standings.

“Five weeks ago I was in hospital, now I’m sitting here with the trophy,” …

Unheralded 20-year-old Russian Karen Khachanov, ranked outside the Top 100 entering China this week, on Sunday beat Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3 in the final of the Chengdu Open to win a first career ATP title.

Coached by former Spanish player Galo Blanco, Khachanov delivered 14 aces over the three sets of the final. It was his fourth win over a seed during the week after upsetting No. 7 Joao …

In Chengdu, 20-year-old Karen Khachanov continued his best week reaching his first career ATP final after downing Viktor Troicki 6-3, 7-5.

“It feels great for me to be in the final,” Khachanov said. “Dreams are coming true, to be playing in my first ATP World Tour final tomorrow. Of course it gives me confidence. In the first round I also beat the seventh seed and yesterday I beat the fourth seed. …

Tomas Berdych will try to successfully defend his Shenzhen title Sunday against former Top 10 Richard Gasquet. On semifinal Saturday, Berdych eased past Thomaz Bellucci 6-2, 7-5 to reach his 30th career final and first of the season. This result comes just over a month after the Czech withdrew from the US Open due to appendicitis.

“It’s always a pleasure to play in front of a full stadium here,” said …

Kristyna Pliskova has always been the lower-ranked sister of Karolina Pliskova in their WTA journeys, but Karolina’s run to the US Open final appears to have inspired her twin.

Kristyna won her first WTA title on Saturday, defeating Nao Hibino 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in the final of the Tashkent Open.

“I’m very happy to win my first ever WTA title,” Pliskova said. “My game was not as expected, however it’s not easy …

Petra Kvitova dialed it back to her former Slam-winning Top 10 days in China, rolling over Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 6-1 to win her first title in over a year at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.

“Wuhan, it’s really one of my favorite cities,” said Kvitova after winning her second title in three years in the city. “It was a great crowd all well, there were some incredible matches for me and …

RAKUTEN JAPAN OPEN
Tokyo, Japan; Surface: hard

Seeds: Kei Nishikori, Gael Monfils, Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic, David Goffin, Nick Kyrgios, Ivo Karlovic, Feliciano Lopez

Floaters: Nicolas Almagro, Benoit Paire, Taylor Fritz, Gilles Muller, Gilles Simon

Notes: The field features three of the Top 10, in addition to US Open winner Marin Cilic and the enigmatic Nick Kyrgios…Tough start for (1) Nishikori against Almagro, who beat him a few years ago in Tokyo…Additional potential tough …

The men’s No. 1 and women’s No. 2 have bowed out, but the China Open remains a blockbuster this week as a combined ATP/WTA event.

On the women’s side nine out of the Top 10 are in attendance, including defending champion Garbine Muguruza trying to find her form, joined by new Top 10er Karolina Pliskova who is looking to further affirm her breakout performance at the US Open.

On the men’s side …

Is Novak Djokovic burning out?

The 29-year-old World No. 1 met the press after a workout in Belgrade today, and he had some interesting things to say.

He told Reuters:
“I don’t want to think about winning titles and being the number one any more in order to avoid putting pressure on myself,” Djokovic said.

“I put too much pressure on myself after winning this year’s Roland Garros and I didn’t like it.

“I …

Defending champion and top seed Tomas Berdych moved into the Shenzhen semifinals Friday with a tough 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-2 victory over countryman Jiri Vesely.

“You don’t play at your best level in every match,” said Berdych. “I also played a very tough match this year against Jiri at Wimbledon, which went to five sets. But I’m happy with the way I played today. It’s good to be on court, to be …

Petra Kvitova cruised into the Wuhan final Friday by crushing Simona Halep 6-1, 6-2. Kvitova, who won Wuhan in 2014, hit 34 winners to just 16 unforced errors in the 67 minute romp.

“It’s amazing. I came to this tournament and really didn’t expect this kind of performance,” Kvitova said. “Physically I’m still so-so – I’m really happy that I’m not falling apart. But I played a really great match …

Defending champion Stan Wawrinka withdrew from next week’s Tokyo event due to a back injury, the tournament announced today.

Wawrinka won the Tokyo title last year beating Benoit Paire.

Wawrinka won the US Open stunning Novak Djokovic and then made the finals at St. Petersburg where his 11-match win streak in finals came to an end to Alexander Zverev.

The World No. 3 Wawrinka has already clinched a berth …

Quarterfinal play will take place in Asia on the ATP on Friday. In Shenzhen, top Czechs Tomas Berdych will collide with countryman Jiri Vesely.

The defending champ Berdych beat Vesely in the quarterfinals at Shenzhen last year.

Richard Gasquet also faces Mischa Zverev, Janko Tipsarevic continues his comeback against Malek Jaziri and Bernard Tomic battles Thomaz Bellucci.

In Chengdu, China, rising star Karen Khachanov seeks his first ATP semifinal against No. 4 seed …

Simona Halep clinched a spot in the year-end Singapore event after cruising past American Madison Keys 6-4, 6-2 to reach the Wuhan semifinals.

“It means a lot to qualify for the WTA Finals Singapore – it was one of my goals this year,” said Halep. “It will be my third time in a row competing at the WTA Finals and I hope I play great. I have great memories from 2014 …

In the marquee match Wednesday in Wuhan, newly crowned World No. 1 Angelique Kerber fell to 2-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in a 3-hour, 20-minute marathon 6-7(10), 7-5, 6-4.

Kvitova won the contest on her seventh matchpoint, ending Kerber’s 8-match win streak.

“I won after playing a long time. I feel happy. But as well I feel tired, and the tournament is still going, so I don’t feel that satisfied. I think …