Three veterans and a newcomer will share part of the stage in Hangzhou during the first round action on Thursday. David Goffin goes against Aleksandar Vukic, while Marin Cilic starts his title defense against Nishesh Basavareddy.
Aleksandar Vukic vs. David Goffin
Goffin and Vukic will be in their career for the third time and for the third time this season when they collide one of the hangzhou on Thursday in round. They have divided their two earlier encounters; Vukic Overweer 6-2, 6-3 in Brisbane Before Goffin got the job with 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Miami Masters.
It has been a terrible year for both boys, so they are not too far in the top 100 and can use at least one decent result to secure the Main-Draw access to the Australian Open 2026. Goffin (no. 87) has a record of 9-17, but at least managed to develop one round at the US Open before he was blown out by Lorenzo Musetti. Vukic (no. 93) is 9-23 and arrives at a three-match losing series against opponents arranged at 412nd, 92nd and 91st. Neither man is reliable, but Goffin can probably get a small lead based on the current form.
Pick: Goffin in 3
(Q) Nishe Basavareddy vs. Marin
Cilic lifted the hangzhou trophy last fall, in principle out of nowhere. The Croat just started a comeback from his last injury and was number 777 in the world. Fast Vooruit 12 months and Cilic is still relatively strong at the age of 36, but the world no. 59 is only 5-8 on the main tour this season and is on a four-match losing series that goes back to the fourth round of Wimbledon. This piece includes back-to-back Davis Cup contradictions in the hands of French men Arthur Rinder Knech and Corentin Moutet.
The three most recent events of Cilic have come on Gras (Wimbledon), Hard courts (US Open) and Clay (Davis Cup). Needless to say, that is terrible preparation on the way to autumn swing. Now he must be confronted with an opponent in Basavareddy who already has a few qualifying victories under his belt in Hangzhou. The 20-year-old American also achieved two wins in China last week (at the Guangzhou Challenger). This is a great opportunity for Basavareddy.
Choose: Baavareddy in 3
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