The Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan will be undergoing a change in date and surface for the 2008 season.
Even though this is the first Tier I tournament on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour calendar, the Toray Pan Pacific Open has suffered in recent years because of its calendar spot immediately after the Australian Open.
According to the Washington Post, the Toray Pan Pacific Open will be moved to September for the 2008 season.
The calendar shift is not the only change coming to Tokyo; the location will be changed from indoor carpet at the Metropolitan Gymnasium to outdoor hard courts at the Ariake Colosseum.
The Washington Post article goes on to state that the organizers are hopeful that they will be able to retain this spot on the calendar once the Tour schedule is restructured as part of Roadmap 2010.
I like the move from indoor to the hard court outdoors. I have never been a huge fan of indoor tennis.