WTA Week in Preview: Kuala Lumpur, Monterrey

February offered a full and varied month of tennis on three continents. Now, in March, it’s time for the ATP and WTA tribes to gather again, in Indian Wells and Miami. Before the players descend on the California desert, though, the tours take a breather. This is Davis Cup week, which means there are no ATP events. On the women’s side, there are just two small tournaments, in Monterrey and Kuala Lumpur. Maybe, after all the carnage in Dubai and Doha, a little rest is for the best.

*Kuala Lumpur

$250,000; WTA International

Hard court

Draw is here*

Only the WTA’s most frequent fliers have stopped in Kuala Lumpur on their way to the States. That includes one member of the Top 10, Roberta Vinci, who at 33 joined this elite company for the first time last week. But this draw isn’t devoid of players of interest: Elina Svitolina is the No. 2 seed, Sabine Lisicki is No. 3, and Eugenie Bouchard is No. 6.

*Monterrey, Mexico

$250,000; WTA International

Hard court

Draw is here*

This year's “Golden Swing” through South America makes a slow fade into the Pacific sunset in Monterrey. Surface-wise, the transition to the U.S. spring season has already begun: As in Acapulco last week, Monterrey is played on hard courts rather than clay. Sara Errani is the top seed, and Carolina Wozniacki is second. Of interest: Johanna Konta at No. 4, Caroline Garcia at No. 5, and unseeded Acapulco runner-up Dominika Cibulkova.

Carrying on: 35-year-old Francesca Schiavone, the champion two weeks ago in Rio, is here as a wild card.