Daniil Medvedev will take on familiar opponent Alex de Minaur in second round action in Beijing, while his Russian countryman battles the French player Ugo Humbert.
(2) Daniil Medvedev vs. Alex de Minaur
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev comes into Beijing from a successful but ultimately disappointing run to the final of the U.S. Open. The Russian was in turns solid and even occasionally brilliant throughout the fortnight, including a notable win over world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. But he came up short in the final against an inspired Novak Djokovic and settled for the runner-up trophy.
Beijing is his first event since the last major of the year, but he meant business on Friday with a 6-2, 6-1 drubbing of world No. 13 Tommy Paul in the first round. Medvedev will face his U.S. Open round of 16 opponent Alex de Minaur in the second round. The Aussie managed to take the first set from Medvedev in New York, but he could not maintain his form as he dropped his 5th match in 7 to the Russian.
De Minaur comes into this match off a tough first round win over tour veteran Andy Murray. He outlasted the Scot 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(6). Fatigue shouldn’t be a concern for the world No. 12, as he’s one of the fittest players on tour, but he has already proven that he has some difficulty with Medvedev. Expect the Russian to ease into the quarterfinals.
Cheryl pick – Medvedev in 2
(5) Andrey Rublev vs. Ugo Humbert
Russia’s Andrey Rublev has only played Ugo Humbert of France a trio of times. The two men met last in Indian Wells this year, which Rublev won, but Humbert nipped Rublev on the grass courts of Halle in 2021. The Russian holds a scant 2-1 head-to-head over the world No. 36.
Humbert had a good result in Atlanta earlier this summer, but the French player otherwise had a spotty hard court swing. He bowed out of the U.S. Open in the first round to Matteo Berrettini and prior to that he won a single match in Cincinnati over his promising young countryman Arthur Fils.
Rublev had a good run in New York, where he made the quarterfinals but fell once again to compatriot Daniil Medvedev. The Russian will be looking to cap the end of the year off and earn his spot in the Nitto ATP finals in Turin in November. Expect the Russian to earn at least another quarterfinal in Beijing.
Cheryl pick – Rublev in 2
WWW: Rublev vs. Humbert?
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