Brisbane and Hong Kong previews, picks, and predictions

The 2024 tennis season is upon us. It begins with a bang, too, as Rafael Nadal’s long-awaited comeback will get underway on the Brisbane International. Nadal is a part of a robust discipline that additionally options Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov, and Andy Murray, whereas the Bank of China Open in Hong Kong is headlined by Andrey Rublev, Frances Tiafoe, and Karen Khachanov. 
 
Here are my previews and picks for the 2 season-opening tournaments. 

Brisbane International

Where: Brisbane, Australia 
Surface: Hard  
Points: 250  
Prize cash: $661,585 

Top seed: Holger Rune  
Defending champion: Kei Nishikori (not taking part in) 

Draw evaluation: If Nadal stays wholesome, one of many largest storylines of the 2024 season (till he will get ranked excessive sufficient) includes the Spaniard going into each event unseeded and on the mercy of attracts. The first one of many 12 months proved to be a form one for Nadal, who will get issues began in Brisbane in opposition to a qualifier earlier than presumably assembly Aslan Karatsev in spherical two and No. 4 seed Ugo Humbert within the quarterfinals. Potential semifinal foes for the 22-time Grand Slam champion are Dimitrov, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Thanasi Kokkinakis. The backside half of the draw is highlighted by an opening-round showdown between Dimitrov and Murray. 

At the highest of the bracket, Rune could not have a simple time reaching the title match. Max Purcell has home-court benefit in opposition to the 20-year-old Dane in spherical one, whereas potential quarterfinal opponent Sebastian Korda performed extraordinarily effectively Down Under final season (Adelaide runner-up, Australian Open quarterfinalist). Elsewhere within the high half, Ben Shelton is in a piece with Sebastian Baez, Marton Fucsovics, and Matteo Arnaldi. 

Quarterfinal predictions: Sebastian Korda over Holger Rune, Ben Shelton over Matteo Arnaldi, Ugo Humbert over Rafael Nadal, and Grigor Dimitrov over Thanasi Kokkinakis 
 
Semifinals: Shelton over Korda and Dimitrov over Humbert 

Final: Dimitrov over Shelton 

Bank of China Open

Where: Hong Kong, Hong Kong 
Surface: Hard  
Points: 250  
Prize cash: $661,585 

Top seed: Andrey Rublev  
Defending champion: None (inaugural occasion) 

Draw evaluation: Hong Kong received’t make as many headlines as Brisbane (which is king this week due to Nadal’s participation), however the 28-man draw is a robust one. Rublev, Khachanov, Tiafoe, and Francisco Cerundolo are the highest 4 seeds with byes; they’re adopted by Jan-Lennard Struff, Lorenzo Musetti, Laslo Djere, and Arthur Fils. Marin Cilic, Roberto Bautista Agut, Emil Ruusuvuori, Miomir Kecmanovic, and Botic van de Zandschulp are among the many unseeded floaters. Even although Rublev, Khachanov, and Tiafoe are clearly the cream of the crop, nobody is more likely to have a simple time of issues in Hong Kong given the depth of the sector. 

Neither one of many high two Russians can anticipate to have clean crusing to the ultimate. Rublev is on a collision course for the quarterfinals with Fils, the current NextGen ATP Finals runner-up. Tiafoe, Kecmanovic, and Van de Zandschulp additionally discover themselves within the high half of the draw. Khachanov arguably has an much more troublesome street; he’s more likely to face Ruusuvuori in spherical two and doubtlessly Musetti within the quarters. The different part is large open—dwelling to Cerundolo, Struff, Cilic, Mackenzie McDonald, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Fabian Marozsan. 

Quarterfinal predictions: Andrey Rublev over Arthur Fils, Miomir Kecmanovic over Jungcheng Shang, Mackenzie McDonald over Roberto Bautista Agut, and Karen Khachanov over Pavel Kotov 
 
Semifinals: Rublev over Kecmanovic and Khachanov over McDonald 

Final: Rublev over Khachanov