China Open 2024: Daniil Medvedev's projected path to final ft. potential SF with Carlos Alcaraz
Daniil Medvedev will begin his Asian swing campaign at the China Open, scheduled to be played in Beijing starting Thursday (26 September). The Russian is seeded third in the tournament.
Having reached the summit clash at last year’s tournament, Medvedev will be feeling good coming into the ATP 500 tournament.
The Russian has a tricky path ahead of him, with a whole host of challengers standing in his path to another final. Let's break down his draw at this year’s China Open:
Daniil Medvedev’s first-round opponent - Gael Monfils
Medvedev will take on the French showman Gael Monfils in an exciting opening match at the China Open. The two haven’t had the best of seasons in 2024 but possess incredible shotmaking abilities and scrambling skills so fans can expect an entertaining encounter when they step out on court.
Daniil Medvedev’s potential second-round opponent - Lorenzo Sonego or Adrian Mannarino
More seasoned campaigners loom ahead for Medvedev as he will lock horns with the winner of the Lorenzo Sonego-Adrian Mannarino first-round encounter next.
Both men have been around the Tour for years and have troubled even the best. While Sonego’s defensive prowess could pose some problems for the Russian, Mannarino also has a certain variety in his game and nifty front-court skills that can keep his opponents on their toes.
Daniil Medvedev’s potential quarterfinal opponent - Alexander Bublik
Medvedev could face his first real test in the China Open quarterfinals, where he is projected to play the dynamic Alexander Bublik, who is seeded 7th in this year’s tournament.
The two have played on six prior occasions and while Medvedev maintains a clean 6-0 slate, the Kazakh has managed to push him to the brink on a few occasions. The quick court conditions in Beijing will also play to Bublik’s liking.
Daniil Medvedev’s potential semifinal opponent - Carlos Alcaraz
Medvedev has already lost a couple of big matches, most notably at Wimbledon, against Carlos Alcaraz this season and will be keen on exacting revenge were they to meet in the semifinals.
The likes of Karen Khachanov and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard crowd the Spaniard’s section, but he will be a favorite to make the semifinals. He also leads the overall head-to-head against Medvedev 5-2.
Daniil Medvedev’s potential final opponent - Jannik Sinner
Medvedev will have to make it all the way to the final to potentially set up a repeat of his US Open quarterfinal and last year's China Open final against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who anchors the top half of the draw this year.
While Medvedev leads Sinner in the current head-to-head by a slender 7-6 margin, he has six of their last seven meetings — all of which have come in the last two years, including his 7-6(2), 7-6(2) China Open finals loss from 12 months ago.