Still plenty to cheer about

Even with a string of withdrawals dulling some of tournament's luster, the appeal of the China Open for the world's elite players underlines the growth of tennis here.

Asia's largest men's and women's combined tournament kicked off its main draw at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on the weekend, but injuries and fatigue at the end of a long season accounted for some high-profile absences from what was supposed to be a glittering cast.

Among the missing on the women's side are 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams and Russian star Maria Sharapova, while the late withdrawals of Andy Murray and world No 1 Rafael Nadal tightened the men's ranks.