We need to look at Hong Kong to gauge whether China is evolving into the more open and tolerant power that China's leadership would like us to believe is unfolding.
If they meet in the final, it would be Nadal's biggest test since his return, the first real gauge of his chance to win an eighth French Open title this June.
Yet some see Taobao as an easy way for new or lesser-known entrants to make a name for themselves in the market, gauge where consumer demand is for products and then go there and open an actual store.