De Minaur returns in Antwerp, Rublev & Tiafoe prime seeds in Almaty, Stockholm | ATP Tour

Scouting Report

De Minaur returns in Antwerp, Rublev & Tiafoe prime seeds in Almaty, Stockholm: Scouting Report

An govt abstract of what each fan ought to know in regards to the coming week

October 12, 2024

ATP Tour motion continues subsequent week with three ATP 250 occasions: the Almaty Open, the European Open in Antwerp and the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm.

The highest seeds are Frances Tiafoe (Almaty), Alex de Minaur (Antwerp) and Andrey Rublev (Stockholm). ATPTour.com appears at 5 issues to look at at every match.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN ALMATY1) High Seed Tiafoe: The American confirmed what he’s able to when he reached the semi-finals of the US Open. Will he have the ability to deliver that degree to the courtroom in Almaty, the place he’ll attempt to declare his first title of the season? The three-time ATP Tour champion will start his match in opposition to Taro Daniel or a qualifier.

2) Great Tabilo: Alejandro Tabilo has been one of many breakthrough stars of the 2024 season. The Chilean lefty started his yr at No. 85 within the PIF ATP Rankings and has climbed as excessive as World No. 19. A champion in Auckland and Mallorca in 2024, the second seed will open his pursuit of a 3rd trophy in opposition to Damir Dzumhur or Maximilian Marterer.

3) Mighty Machac: Quietly, Tomas Machac of Czechia has been the most effective gamers on the ATP Tour within the second half of the season. The Paris Olympics combined doubles gold medalist (with Katerina Siniakova), the 23-year-old reached the Tokyo semi-finals earlier than upsetting Carlos Alcaraz en path to the Shanghai semi-finals. Solely Jannik Sinner was in a position to cease him. Machac, the fifth seed in Almaty, will tackle Kazakhstani Timofey Skatov.

4) Shevchenko Leads Kazakhstani Cost: There are three Kazakhstanis within the Almaty essential draw (earlier than the completion of qualifying). Alexander Shevchenko, the World No. 58, leads the best way. Skatov and Beibit Zhukayev obtained wild playing cards.

5) Lammons/Withrow Pushing For Turin Spot: For the second consecutive yr, Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow are making a push to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. The Individuals are ninth within the PIF ATP Doubles Groups Rankings and can attempt to enhance their standing as the highest seeds in Kazakhstan.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN ANTWERP1) De Minaur Returns: The highest seed on the Belgian ATP 250 is De Minaur, who will compete for the primary time since reaching the US Open quarter-finals as a result of harm. The Australian is ninth within the PIF ATP Stay Race To Turin, and can make his return in opposition to Roberto Carballes Baena or Dominik Koepfer.

2) Tsitsipas Second Seed: One yr in the past, Stefanos Tsitsipas gained the doubles title in Antwerp with brother Petros Tsitsipas. The Greeks are defending their crown and Stefanos is the second seed in singles. This yr’s Monte-Carlo champion will try so as to add a hard-court title to his 2024 assortment. He’ll have to be sharp from the primary ball in opposition to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or a qualifier.

3) Belgians At Dwelling: Will there be a house champion in singles or doubles for the primary time in Antwerp? Zizou Bergs, Alexander Blockx and Raphael Collignon symbolize Belgium and could have the help of their native followers. In doubles, Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen will attempt to accumulate {hardware}.

4) Retiring Gasquet: This week Richard Gasquet introduced by an interview with L’Equipe that 2025 Roland Garros would be the last match of his illustrious profession. The 2016 Antwerp champion obtained a wild card into the occasion and can seek for classic type in opposition to sixth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry within the first spherical.

5) Krawietz/Puetz High Doubles Seeds: Kevin Krawietz captured glory on the European Open in 2019 with Andres Mies. This version, he’ll pursue the trophy with one other countryman, Tim Puetz, with whom he’s sixth within the PIF ATP Doubles Groups Rankings. The second seeds are 2023 Nitto ATP Finals opponents Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN STOCKHOLM1) Rublev On The Bubble: High seed Andrey Rublev is in a decent battle within the PIF ATP Stay Race To Turin. The 26-year-old, who’s attempting to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive yr, is eighth within the Stay Race. He can assist safe his standing with a deep run in Stockholm, the place he’ll play Leo Borg or Alexandre Muller in his opening match.

2) Excessive Stay Race Penalties: Rublev shouldn’t be the one participant competing in Stockholm who’s jockeying for Stay Race place. Casper Ruud and Tommy Paul are in seventh and eleventh, respectively. Ruud will open in opposition to Lorenzo Sonego or a qualifier, whereas 2021 champion Tommy Paul will attempt to transfer previous Pedro Martinez or a qualifier.

3) Borg, Wawrinka & Ymer Wild Playing cards: This yr’s Stockholm essential draw singles wild playing cards went to Swede Leo Borg, the son of Bjorn Borg, former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka and residential favorite Elias Ymer. Wawrinka debuted in Stockholm in 2010, when he superior to the quarter-finals earlier than shedding to Roger Federer in three units.

4) Former Champion Dimitrov: Grigor Dimitrov, the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion, is tenth within the Stay Race, 645 factors behind eighth-placed Rublev. The Bulgarian will hope that his fond reminiscences of Stockholm, the place he gained his first ATP Tour title in 2013, assist him slim the deficit. Dimitrov will start his occasion in opposition to Quentin Halys or Sumit Nagal.

5) Heliovaara/Patten Lead Doubles Subject: This yr’s Wimbledon doubles champions, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten, are the highest seeds in Stockholm. Having additionally triumphed collectively in Marrakech and Lyon, they may attempt to earn their fourth title of the season. The second seeds are Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski.