Hangzhou Open 2024 Day 1: Men's singles predictions ft. Luca Nardi vs Fabian Marozsan
The top players on the tour will next compete in the 2024 Hangzhou Open in China. World No. 14 Holger Rune and Karen Khachanov will be the top two seeds at the event followed by Tomas Martin Etcheverry and in-form Brandon Nakashima.
Day 1 of the event will feature seven matches in the singles format and two in the men's doubles competition. The top four seeds will receive a first round bye in the event due to their ranking points.
Former World No. 3 Marin Cilic will make his first appearance on the tour after six months at the Hangzhou Open. The Croatian was sidelined due to a knee injury but has now been cleared to compete at the highest level. He will take on Zachary Svajda in the first round.
On that note, let's take a look at a few exciting matches scheduled for Day 1 in the Hangzhou Open.
1) Luciano Darderi vs Mikhail Kukushkin
World No. 41 Luciano Darderi will take on World No. 112 Mikhail Kukushkin in the first round. The head-to-head between the duo is locked at 0-0.
Darderi has had an encouraging season so far by amassing a title-winning run in the Cordoba Open and a semifinal finish in the U.S Men's Clay Court Championships. He will enter China on the back of a first round exit in New York.
Kukushkin, meanwhile, has played most of his tennis on the ATP Challenger circuit this year. He managed to enter the main draw of the French Open but was eliminated by Fabian Marozsan in the first round.
Considering their results this year and skill on hardcourts, Darderi will be the clear favorite to come out on top. He should be able to begin his campaign with a win.
Pick: Luciano Darderi to win in three sets.
2) Luca Nardi vs Fabian Marozsan
World No. 87 Luca Nardi will lock horns with World No. 49 Fabian Marozsan in the first round. The head-to-head between the duo is poised at 0-0.
Nardi stunned the men's tour this year with a remarkable win against Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells. Since then, he's chalked up a title-winning run in the ATP Naples Challenger and also reached the second round of the Libema Open. The youngster is highly rated and has a great chance to show his skills in Hangzhou.
Fabian Marozsan, meanwhile, has had a solid season on the men's tour this year. He's garnered 20 wins from 45 matches, including quarterfinal runs in the Miami Open and the Umag Open. He also reached the third round of the Australian Open, where he lost to Taylor Fritz in four sets.
The Hungarian has already outsmarted the likes of Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov, and Alex De Minaur this year. He will be hoping to build on those performances and make a deep run in Hangzhou. Considering their record at the highest level, Marozsan should be able to pick up the win.
Pick: Marozsan to win in three sets.
3) Jamie Murray/John Peers vs Yoshihito Nishioka/Kaito Uesugi
The Brit-Australian pair of Jamie Murray and John Peers will begin their doubles campaign against Yoshihito Nishioka and Kaito Uesugi in the first round.
Peers and Murray will enter the event on the back of a disappointing first round exit in New York. The duo showcased their potential during a semifinal run in Winston-Salem last month. They will be eager to find their rhythm again in the Hangzhou Open.
Nishioka and Uesugi, meanwhile, haven't played a lot of doubles together on the men's tour. They will need to combine well to cause problems for their experienced opponents in the opening bout. It is most likely that the duo will come up slightly short against Jamie Murray and Olympic gold medalist John Peers.
Pick: Jamie Murray and John Peers to win in straight sets.