The ATP Tour returns to China for the primary time since 2019 this week with the Chengdu Open and Huafa Properties Zhuhai Championships, two ATP 250 hard-court occasions. The fifth version of the Laver Cup will happen from 22-24 September in Vancouver, Canada.
Zverev headlines the motion in Chengdu, the place Lorenzo Musetti and Grigor Dimitrov compete. Former World No. 1 Andy Murray, Chinese language star Shang Juncheng and Karen Khachanov take to courtroom in Zhuhai.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are among the many stars enjoying on the Laver Cup.
ATPTour.com appears forward at 5 issues to look at from every occasion.
[ATP APP]
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN CHENGDU
1) Zverev Leads Discipline: Alexander Zverev leads the sector as the highest seed in Chengdu. The German, who has gained 13 of his 20 tour-level titles on arduous courts, might be aiming for a deep run on the ATP 250 occasion to spice up his possibilities of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. The 2-time season finale champion is eighth within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin after reaching the quarter-finals on the US Open.
2) Musetti & Dimitrov Chasing First Titles Of Season: Lorenzo Musetti and Grigor Dimitrov will attempt to win their first titles of the season on the hard-court match. Musetti’s greatest end result on arduous this yr was a run to the third spherical in Toronto. The 32-year-old Dimitrov is making his third look in Chengdu, along with his greatest end result a semi-final displaying in 2016. The Bulgarian superior to the ultimate in Geneva (clay) in Could.
3) Evans Recent Off Davis Cup Heroics: Daniel Evans on Sunday helped Nice Britain advance to the Davis Cup Closing 8 in Malaga with a memorable efficiency, profitable in singles and doubles (with Neal Skupski) towards France. He’ll now journey to Chengdu, the place he’s the fourth seed. The Briton will play 2022 Subsequent Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima or Roman Safiullin within the second spherical.
4) Australian Seeds: Two of the seeded gamers are Australian: sixth seed Max Purcell and eighth seed Aleksandar Vukic. Purcell reached the quarter-finals on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Cincinnati in August and Vukic superior to his first ATP Tour last in Atlanta in July.
5) Doumbia/Reboul High Doubles Seeds: Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul, this yr’s Cordoba finalists, are the highest seeds within the Chengdu doubles area. Alexander Bublik groups with Miomir Kecmanovic whereas 2022 Wimbledon doubles champion Max Purcell performs with Jordan Thompson. Nuno Borges and Arthur Rinderknech crew, as do third seeds Marcelo Demoliner and Matwe Middelkoop. Demoliner and Middelkoop are 5-3 on the yr collectively.
[BREAK POINT]
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN ZHUHAI
1) Former World No. 1 Murray Competes: Andy Murray will make his second look in Zhuhai when he takes to courtroom on the ATP 250 occasion. The Scot’s greatest end result on arduous courts this season was a run to the ultimate in Doha in February. Seeded seventh this yr, Murray superior to the second spherical in Zhuhai in 2019.
2) Shang Leads House Hopes: The 18-year-old Shang will compete on residence soil at a tour-level occasion for the primary time. The Chinese language star is at present seventeenth within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Jeddah and can want a deep run to extend his possibilities of qualifying for the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals. Shang’s greatest end result on Tour this yr was a third-round run in Washington, the place he beat Ben Shelton, who later made the US Open semi-finals. It was his second win over Shelton throughout the American summer time.
3) Khachanov Continues Comeback: After returning to singles motion on the US Open following three months away as a result of two accidents, Karen Khachanov will proceed his comeback in Zhuhai. The 27-year-old has performed a few of his greatest tennis on arduous courts this yr, advancing to the final 4 on the Australian Open and in Miami.
4) Can Norrie & Korda Discover Type? Second seed Cameron Norrie and fourth seed Sebastian Korda will all look to reply in Zhuhai after struggling disappointing early exits on the US Open. Norrie, who fell within the third spherical towards Matteo Arnaldi, is chasing his second title of the season (Rio de Janeiro). Korda fell within the opening spherical on the hard-court main. The American holds a 16-11 report in 2023 after making a fast begin in January by reaching the ultimate at Adelaide-1 and the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
5) Arnaldi Trying To Construct: Italian Arnaldi loved a run to the fourth spherical of a serious for the primary time on the US Open. The 22-year-old Italian defeated Jason Kubler, Arthur Fils and Norrie in New York to rise to a career-high No. 47 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Can the 2022 Subsequent Gen ATP Finals competitor preserve his type getting into Zhuhai, the place he’ll open towards Aslan Karatsev?
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH AT LAVER CUP
1) High 10 Expertise: Crew Europe possesses quite a lot of High 10 stars. Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev all line up for Crew Europe in Canada.
2) Defending Champion Crew World: Crew World pipped Crew Europe on the Laver Cup in 2022. Crew World will intention to defend its title, led by People Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.
3) #NextGenATP Stars In Motion: US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton, third within the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Jeddah, traces up for Crew World, whereas fourth-placed Arthur Fils is an alternate for Crew Europe in Canada.
4) Borg & McEnroe Lead Groups: Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will lead the groups as soon as once more on the occasion. Crew Europe captain Borg has overseen three victories previously, whereas McEnroe was on the helm for Crew World in 2022 once they triumphed.
5) Distinctive Format: The Laver Cup might be performed over three days, from 22-24 September, throughout 5 classes. Every match win is price one level on Friday, two factors on Saturday and three factors on a high-stakes Sunday. The primary crew to achieve 13 factors (out of a potential 24) wins the Laver Cup.
#Scouting #Report #Murray #Zverev #Compete #Zhuhai #Chengdu #High #Stars #Laver #Cup