5 favorites to win ATP China Open 2024 ft. Carlos Alcaraz, Grigor Dimitrov
The 2024 China Open is the next stop on the men's tour. The tournament is a part of the ATP 500 series and will mark the beginning of the Asian hardcourt swing this year.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No. 2 Alexander Zverev are the top two seeds at the event followed by Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. British talent Cameron Norrie has withdrawn from the event, while Pablo Carreno Busta will enter the main draw via his protected ranking.
Former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has won the China Open six times in his career. The Serb will miss the event this year as he wishes to prioritize Major events on tour.
Sinner outclassed Medvedev in the finals last year 7-6(2), 7-6(2) and will be the defending champion in Beijing. With the ATP Finals on the horizon, players will be hoping to perform well and secure their spots in Turin.
Let's take a look at five players who are among the favorites to win the China Open this year.
5) Grigor Dimitrov
Fifth on the list is World No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov.
Dimitrov has had an excellent season so far, amassing 38 wins from 52 matches, including a run to the title at the Brisbane International. He also reached the finals of the Open Sud De France and the Miami Open.
The Bulgarian has silenced his critics with remarkable results on tour in the last 18 months. He has a 76% success ratio on hardcourt this year and will be eager to improve that statistic further at the China Open.
Dimitrov is also in the race to secure his spot in the ATP Finals. He needs 600 points to edge past Alex De Minaur and find a place among the top eight spots. The 33-year-old should be able to make a deep run in Beijing.
4) Alexander Zverev
Next up is German No. 1 Alexander Zverev.
Zverev once again failed to open his account at the Majors this year. He came close to lifting the trophy at the Australian Open and the French Open, but couldn't get the job done at both events. The 27-year-old reached the final in Paris, but Carlos Alcaraz outlasted Zverev in a close five-set match 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
Zverev has already qualified for the ATP Finals with solid results at most events this season. He will be hungry for more success having only lifted one title this year, the Italian Open. The German will enter on the back of a run to the quarterfinals in New York and should be among the favorites to make a significant impact in Beijing.
3) Carlos Alcaraz
Third on the list is Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz is undoubtedly one of the best players on tour. He's captured two Grand Slam titles this year and also defended his BNP Paribas Open crown. The 21-year-old came close to winning a gold medal in the Summer Olympics, but Novak Djokovic stood in his way in the final.
Alcaraz will enter Beijing on the back of a shock second-round exit at the US Open. He will be eager to make amends and get back to winning ways. The Spaniard will be making his second appearance at the China Open next week. He reached the semifinals of the event last year, losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
2) Andrey Rublev
Second on the list is Russian No. 2 Andrey Rublev.
Rublev has a brilliant record in Masters 1000 and ATP 500 events on tour. This season, he has 39 wins from 57 matches, including title-winning runs at the Hong Kong Open and the Madrid Open. He also reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and secured a runner-up finish at the Canada Open last month.
Rublev's results this year highlight his potential to do well on hardcourt. He will enter Beijing on the back of a modest fourth-round exit in New York. If the Russian can keep his focus during the first few rounds and manage the crucial moments well, he could be a force to be reckoned with at the China Open.
1) Jannik Sinner will be defending champion at the China Open
It should come as no surprise that Jannik Sinner is among the favorites to win the 2024 China Open. The Italian has been outstanding this year, with title-winning runs at the Australian Open and the US Open. He outsmarted Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne and Taylor Fritz in the finals in New York.
Sinner's progress on tour is a blueprint for youngsters trying to achieve success at the highest level. He has improved his game's technical aspects and also prepared himself physically to compete against higher-ranked opponents. The 23-year-old has captured six titles this year, five of them on hardcourt. He will be the top pick to win, and defend his title at the China Open.