It's episode 22 of the Tennis Asia Podcast, and we cover an eventful week including the ATP tournament in Hong Kong where Kei Nishikori made his first final in 6 years, Shang retires with sickness, Hyeon Chung wins first title since 2019, Naomi Osaka made the final in Auckland but sadly retired, Aoi Ito won her first WTA 125 title only to come up short in Melbourne, and we look ahead to the Davis Cup ties featuring Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei.

Tennis Asia is in Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Tennis Open being held in the first week of the 2025 season. Some of Asia's finest players will battle it out alongside established stars and young up-and-comers for the title in preparation for the upcoming Australian Open.

Tennis Asia Podcast gives the rundown of our top 10 players from Asia in the 2024 season, featuring men and women from the singles and doubles circuits.

Who will make the top 10 and who just missed out? Listen/watch to find out!

We're finally back with Tennis Asia Podcast Episode 19, which features:

-Zheng Qinwen's admirable run to the final in her first WTA Finals appearance, ultimately coming up short in a classic match against Coco Gauff in Riyadh.

-Kei Nishikori's title win at the Helsinki Challenger, his first in over a year, putting him on the verge of the top 100.

-ATP Challenger roundup

-Preview of Billie Jean King Cup where Japan will take on Romania

-Zheng Qinwen finishes runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka but puts in an excellent performance. It turned out to be enough for her to qualify for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, making her the second Chinese player to do so after Li Na.

-Meanwhile, Japanese youngster Aoi Ito qualifies for Osaka and reaches the quarterfinals with excellent performances over Kenin and Cocciaretto.

-Also discussed are WTA Ningbo, ATP Almaty, as well as upcoming ATP Challenger events in Asia.

Episode 17: Zheng Qinwen dishes out a first-ever bagel to Mirra Andreeva on the WTA Tour but ultimately falls to Karolina Muchova in the semifinals at the China Open in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Wu Yibing puts on an impressive showing on his comeback in Shanghai, losing but putting on a sparkling show against Carlos Alcaraz that even got the respect of the Spaniard.

Also discussed:

- Yosuke Watanuki's return and march to the last 32 - ITF 75 Rancho Santa Fe: Shibahara loses in final to 16-year-old Iva Jović - Preview of WTA 1000 in Wuhan. - Preview of the Hangzhou Challenger and ATP 250 in Almaty. - ...and, uh, Taro Daniel spending 18 hours in Seoul

Episode 16:

It was a superb week for Chinese tennis as Bu Yunchaokete became the first Chinese man to reach the semifinals of the China Open in Beijing, with big wins over Musetti and Rublev. Alcaraz and Sinner played a superb final.

-Zhang Shuai remarkably reached the quarterfinals after ending her 24-match losing streak. Zheng Qinwen is also in the quarters.

-Kei Nishikori made the quarters in Tokyo but loses out to Rune. And some disappointment for Naomi Osaka.

-A look ahead at Shanghai Masters. Jerry Shang vs Alcaraz awaits.

-WTA 125 in Hong Kong and Challenger roundup.

We discuss the incredible first title win in Chengdu for 19-year-old Shang Juncheng, aka Jerry Shang. He becomes the first player born in 2005 or later to win an ATP title, and just the second man from China to win an ATP title. How far can this young talent go?

Also discussed is the Hangzhou Open, with a run to the final for Zhang Zhizhen and a semifinal run for Bu Yunchaokete, with Bu entering the top 100 for the first time. How good is Chinese men's tennis right now?!

Yasutaka Uchiyama also reached the quarters in Hangzhou.

Also discussed are the recently completed Korea Open, this week's China Open, Zhang Shuai breaking her record 24-match losing streak, the return of Naomi Osaka, and the Japan Open featuring Kei Nishikori and Rei Sakamoto.

We even made room to discuss the Nonthaburi 4 Challenger and the return of a certain Mr. Hyeon Chung!