The ATP Japan Open will be held in the same venue as next year’s Olympic Games. Top players like Novak Djokovic are planning to play this tournament this year to feel the conditions and prepare for next year’s Games. But there is still a lot of time between now and then, as the more important question is: who will advance to the next round of this year’s Tokyo Japan Open?
ATP Japan Open Day 1 Predictions
Lorenzo Sonego vs Hyeon Chung
Head-to-head: First meeting
Chung is still on his comeback trail after injuries that have hurt his past few seasons. Sonego has been playing well, but could be shaky at big moments and can be inconsistent with his results at times.
Even though Chung is still not at his best right now, he should be the slight favorite to come through and prevail.
Prediction: Chung in 2
Marin Cilic vs Yuichi Sugita
Head-to-head: First meeting
Sugita has played mainly on the ATP Challenger Tour this season and has had some good results here and there. But it will be a different level of toughness and it might prove too much against the former US Open champion, Marin Cilic.
Cilic has yet to play a match after his quarterfinal showing at the US Open earlier this month. There may be a bit of rust on the Croat’s game and he has not been his best all season, but he should eventually get through this match-up and advance to the next round without much trouble.
Prediction: Cilic in 2
Joao Sousa vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Head-to-head: Nishioka leads 1-0
Nishioka will get the home support, but will it be enough to push him over the finish line against an in-form Sousa right now?
The Portuguese reached the semifinals in St. Petersburg two weeks ago and the quarterfinals in Chengdu last week, so it will be difficult to stop him if he continues to play like this.
Even though Nishioka beat Sousa just over a month ago, it will be a completely different matchup this time.
Prediction: Sousa in 2
Hubert Hurkacz vs Lucas Pouille
Head-to-head: Hurkacz leads 2-0
Hurkacz has already beaten the Frenchman twice this year. But the young Pole has yet to win a match since capturing his first ATP title in Winston-Salem in August. The same could same for Pouille after a first-round exit in Zhuhai early last week.
It will be a close match considering both players have been struggling with form as of late. But Pouille can be incredibly inconsistent and beat himself up when a few points do not end up going his way. Hurkacz could beat the Frenchman for the third time this season based on this.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
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