Week #41 preview: Linz, Osaka

Linz (AUT), International, $220,000
The Austrian indoor tournament of Linz was degraded to the International category this season, but it still presents an interesting field led by WTA #10 and Beijing runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska and WTA #11 Flavia Pennetta. US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer, Czech Iveta Benesova, Lucie Safarova and Petra Kvitova and German Anna- Lena Groenefeld are also among the candidates for the title, while home crowd will cheer for local favourite Sybille Bammer.

Osaka (JAP), International, $220,000
Very interesting field also in this International event in Japan, with three Top-20 players: WTA #6 Caroline Wozniacki, WTA #12 Marion Bartoli and WTA #15 Samantha Stosur as the highest seeds and favourites for the title. But they will find a strong opposition in players such as Francesca Schiavone, Shahar Peer, Maria Kirilenko, Aleksandra Wozniak, Yaroslava Shvedova, Melinda Czink or Sania Mirza.