Redemption is the theme as the 2019 edition of the Pan Pacific Open gets underway Monday with a weaker field than in year's past, with only two of the world's top 10 players competing. Still, 12 of the world's top 30 are due to take the court at Osaka's Utsubo Tennis Center, where world No. 4 Naomi Osaka learned to play tennis as a toddler, and the absence of some of the Women's Tennis Association's top players will provide an opportunity for the hometown favorite and a host of other struggling stars to get their confidence back and make a run at the title.
A break down of players to watch in this week's field:
Struggling stars: