The Top Storylines to Watch for at the 2016 China Open

Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are out, Andy Murray is threatening and Angelique Kerber is trying to hang on. Those are just a few of the top storylines to watch at the 2016 China Open.

Played in Beijing, the China Open is a premier (900 points) tournament for the WTA Tour and 500-level ATP World Tour event. It's also the last big joint event for the men's and women's tours. Some of the top ATP players are competing in Tokyo at the Japan Open. 

Djokovic is so far ahead on the ATP World Tour that his No. 1 ranking is secure well into next year. Although Williams withdrew from Wuhan and the China Open, a small opening remains for her to retake the No. 1 ranking from Kerber this year.

However, the real race is for the final spots in the year-end championships. 

Veterans such as Svetlana Kuznetsova, Venus Williams, Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic find themselves on the outside looking in on the top eight.  Can they mount a late-season surge? 

With Djokovic on the sidelines, can Murray make a push to overtake the No. 1 spot in the singles race? How will Kerber respond to an early exit at Wuhan? Could there be a couple of surprise players to emerge to compete in the year-end tournaments?

Those are among the top storylines to watch in Beijing.   

Andy Murray Takes Aim at Novak Djokovic's Single-Race Lead

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Andy Murray during a match at the 2016 U.S. Open.

With Djokovic out, Murray has an opportunity to make up some ground in the singles race. Murray trails Djokovic by 2,055 points. There are 2,500 points up for grabs between the China Open, Shanghai Open and Paris Masters going into the ATP finals.

Seeded No. 1 in Beijing, Murray has a favorable draw. 

Last year, Murray skipped Beijing. So winning would also help him in his bid to narrow the gap between he and Djokovic in the overall rankings.

Possible Pouille vs Nadal Rematch

EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/Getty Images

Lucas Pouille eyes Rafael Nadal during their match at the 2016 U.S. Open.

Lucas Pouille's upset over Rafael Nadal was one of the most entertaining and intriguing matches of the 2016 U.S. Open. 

In an epic five-setter, Pouille shocked Nadal in the fourth round, winning the match in a tiebreaker (8-6). The two could meet again in Beijing as they were drawn in the same quarter.

Kerber Tries to Solidify Her Spot at the Top

GREG BAKER/Getty Images

Angelique Kerber tries a slice backhand during a match at the 2016 Wuhan Open.

Kerber relinquished 285 points with her loss at the Wuhan Open. She'll try to avoid giving up points as she heads into the year-end championships ranked No. 1.

Williams gave Kerber an assist by withdrawing from Wuhan and the China Open. With no points to defend, even a modest showing at those tournaments would have helped Williams slice Kerber's lead. Two wins and Williams could have overtaken Kerber before heading into the year-end championship. 

Instead, Kerber maintains a comfortable, but getable, 1,435-point lead over Williams. 

If Kerber falters, she could leave the door open for Williams to retake the lead. As WTA Insider David Kane wrote: "Now that she's earned the No.1 ranking, the question becomes how long Kerber can keep it."

Young Guns Try Late-Season Surge

Associated Press

Alexander Zverev poses with the winning trophy at the 2016 St. Petersburg Open.

Alexander Zverev, Madison Keys, Nick Kyrgios and Karolina Pliskova are all under 25 and enjoying career-high rankings. How they finish this season could give them momentum heading into 2017. 

Zverev finished 2015 ranked No. 83 and reached a career-high No. 24 this week. He's making a late-season surge to finish in the top 20. Last week, Zverev defeated Stan Wawrinka at the St. Petersburg Open. Zverev withdrew from the Shenzhen Open due to fatigue. 

If he has a strong finish, Zverev, 19, could replace Kyrgios, 21, as the youngest player in the top 20. Meanwhile, Kyrgios could make a run at the top 10. 

Keys is ranked No. 9 and replaced Venus Williams as the second-ranked American female. Keys is also still in the running to make the WTA finals. 

Pliskova sits at No. 6 in the rankings at No. 4 in the singles race. A good showing at the China Open could all but secure her a spot in the year-end finals.

Novak and Serena Skip Beijing, Party in Europe

Jacopo Raule/Getty Images

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams joke at a benefit in Milan.

Djokovic and Williams, the two most dominant players on tour over the past three years, leave a void in star-power with their absence in Beijing. 

They appeared on court in Nice, France, albeit in formalwear, to play in an exhibition on clay to celebrate the opening of the Mouratoglou Academy.

They also appeared together in Milan to support Djokovic's foundation.

The two titans of tennis are nursing injuries. Djokovic withdrew from the China Open, citing an elbow injury. Williams has been dealing with knee and shoulder issues.

They have both qualified for and committed to playing in their respective tour's year-end tournaments.

Battle for the ATP World Tour Final 8

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Gael Monfils slides to make a play on the ball during the 2016 U.S. Open.

Winning in Beijing could help several players fighting to qualify for the ATP finals in London.  The same is true for those competing 500-level tournament in Japan. This includes Nishikori, Gael Monfils, Berdych and Cilic.

Only five spots remain in the race to London. Djokovic, Murray and Wawrinka have punched their tickets.

Raonic and Nishikori are on the verge of qualifying, sitting at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. If the season ended today, Monfils, Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal would round out the final eight. 

But the season doesn't end today. In fact, the final stretch heats up in Beijing. Berdych, Cilic and David Goffin all have outside chances of qualifying. 

WTA's Tight Race to the Finals

Kevin Lee/Getty Images

Madison Keys hits a backhand during a match at the 2016 Wuhan Open.

Petra Kvitova upset Kerber in Wuhan on her way to winning her first title in 13 months.

After defeating Kerber, Kvitova told reporters (via tennis.com): "I didn't really know what I should expect of myself before the tournament ... But this match showed me a lot about how good I can play again ... I think it's very good signs."

The win move Kvitova up nine spots to No. 11 on the Race to Singapore. 

Kerber, Williams and Simona Halep are the only players who have qualified. Fewer than 500 points separate Pliskova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Garbine Muguruza and Dominika Cibulkova, ranked No. 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively. 

If the season ended today, Keys would take the eighth slot. However, Carla Suarez Navarro, Kuznetsova, Johanna Konta and Kvitova are all within striking distance. Venus Williams and Roberta Vinci have an outside chance, but it looks like they are headed to the "also-rans championship" in Sofia.